Futures tipped a higher open for equities in Japan. Nikkei futures traded in Chicago were higher by 0.34 percent at 20,100 and Osaka futures were up 0.09 percent at 20,050. Both were higher than the Nikkei 225’s last close of 20,032.35.
Over in Australia, SPI futures fell 0.79 percent to 5,738, compared with the S&P/ASX 200’s Tuesday close of 5,783.818.
U.S. markets were closed on Tuesday for Independence Day. In Europe, stocks closed lower. The Stoxx 600 closed down 0.29 percent, with most major indexes in the region closing lower.
In currencies, the safe-haven yen gave up some gains to trade at 113.15 to the dollar at 6:27 a.m. HK/SIN. The yen had strengthened to trade around 112.8 following Tuesday’s missile launch.
“Further downside (in dollar/yen) could be expected if uncertainty and geopolitical risk accelerate the flight to safety. From a technical standpoint, the dollar/yen has found some resistance at 113.50. A failure of bulls to secure control above this level could open a path lower back towards 111.60,” FXTM research analyst Lukman Otunuga said in a Tuesday evening note.
The Australian dollar edged down after trading as low as $0.7595 overnight after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s held interest rates steady on Tuesday. While the central bank was widely expected to stand pat, some traders had been speculating the RBA might deliver hawkish signals after the European Central Bank and the Bank of England took a more hawkish bent last week. The Aussie dollar traded at $0.7604 at 6:36 a.m. HK/SIN.
The dollar index, which measures the dollar against a basket of currencies, was firmer at 96.218.
In energy news, Brent crude futures settled down 7 cents at $49.61 a barrel and U.S. crude futures were trading up 1 cent at $47.08.
On the economic calendar for Wednesday, China Caixin services PMI for June was expected at 9:45 a.m. HK/SIN.
