Benchmarks for Japanese equities traded flat at the open while other markets including Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia were shut. The S&P 500 notched an eight-week winning streak on Friday the longest in more than five years on signs price pressures in the US were easing. Contracts for US stocks and Treasuries were also little changed in Asia trading.
(Bloomberg) US equity futures edged higher while the dollar extended losses as trading resumed after the Christmas holiday amid investor expectations for earlier and deep interest rate cuts next year. Stocks in Asia were mixed in a thin trading session with markets including Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia shut. Emerging Asian currencies rose, with South Korea’s won and the Malaysian ringgit leading gains against a weak dollar that fell for a third straight session to its lowest in almost five months. Some on Wall Street are positioning for further stock gains ahead as the session kicked off the start of the “Santa Claus rally” a seasonal trend where equities tend to climb into the first few days of the new year. The S&P 500 notched an eight-week winning streak on Friday the longest in more than five years on signs price pressures in the US were easing. Treasuries were little changed in Asia trading. “As for emerging markets in Asia, ‘silent night’ says much, giv