Morning wrap (17.09.2021)

• Stocks traded mixed overnight as investors were weighing risk related to Chinese housing companies against improved outlook for US taper

• Nikkei and Kospi gained during the Asian session while S&P/ASX 200 and indices from China pulled back

• European index futures trade higher compared to yesterday's cash closing prices

• Democrat leaders - Biden, Pelosi and Schumer - agree that Trump-era tax cuts must be removed

• Biden administration is exploring options for rejoining the trans-pacific trade pact. Pact currently includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, CHile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam

• Around 28% of the US crude production in the Gulf of Mexico still remains shut after recent hurricanes (ida and Nicholas)

• United States and Australia said that they will strengthen relationship with Taiwan

• ECB rejected overnight Financial Times report that said internal inflation forecasts at the Bank may warrant an earlier rate hike. Story surfaced after ECB Chief Economist Lane reportedly said in a private meeting that ECB expects inflation to hit 2% goal in 2025

• Chinese state media say that Evergrande should not bet on government bailout and instead look for market ways to save itself

• Precious and industrial metals gain while oil and agricultural goods pull back

• CAD and AUD are the best performing major currencies while JPY and USD lag the most

While the situation on the stock markets was mixed during the Asian session, AUDJPY - FX pair often viewed as risk barometer - managed to move slightly higher. The pair bounced off the support zone ranging above the 23.6% retracement of the correction launched in May 2021. Key near-term support is marked with recent local high near 50% retracement. Source: xStation5