In Asian Equity Markets stocks traded modestly higher on Thursday amid improved investor sentiment after U.S. stocks notched gains in the last session. The Nikkei 225 added 0.28 percent, with the materials sector contributing to gains. The Topix sub-indexes for steel and non-ferrous metals were among the best-performing sectors, rising 2.78 percent and 3.06 percent, respectively. In Seoul, the Kospi firmed as the trading session wore on, with the index last higher by 0.31 percent amid gains in steelmakers and other manufacturing names. Technology stocks were mixed, with Samsung Electronics, an index heavyweight, was up 2.61 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar was steady against a basket of its peers on Thursday, supported by higher long-term U.S. Treasury yields on improving investor appetite for risk assets, though lingering concerns over U.S.-China trade tensions checked the greenback. The dollar index against a group of six major currencies was flat at 89.633 after edging up 0.1 percent on Wednesday. The U.S. currency gained 0.15 percent to 107.410 yen, adding to the previous day’s modest gains. The Canadian dollar was another big mover, having slid 0.6 percent against the dollar after the Bank of Canada did not sound as hawkish as some had anticipated.

In Commodities Markets oil prices on Thursday remained close to late 2014-highs reached in the previous session as U.S. crude inventories declined and as top exporter Saudi Arabia pushes for prices of $80 to $100 per barrel by continuing to withhold supplies. Brent crude oil futures were at $73.82 per barrel  up 34 cents, or 0.5 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $68.75 a barrel. Brent on Wednesday marked its highest level since November, 2014 at $73.93 per barrel. WTI hit its strongest since December, 2014 at $68.91 a barrel.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 eked out a small gain while the Dow declined after a volatile trading session on Wednesday, with weakness in sectors such as consumer staples and financials offsetting strong gains in the energy and industrial indexes. Higher oil prices boosted energy stocks while transport stocks such as CSX Corp helped the industrial sector. But IBM’s 7.5 percent decline was the biggest drag on the S&P after the technology company’s quarterly profit margins missed Wall Street targets. The S&P 500 gained 0.08 percent, to 2,708.64 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.19 percent, to 7,295.24.

In Bond Markets Japanese government bond prices slipped on Thursday with the debt market coming under pressure as domestic equities extended gains to reach seven-week highs. The five-year JGB yield rose half a basis point to minus 0.110 percent. The benchmark 10-year yield added half a basis point to 0.035 percent and the 30-year yield was also half a basis point higher at 0.700 percent. Trading across U.S. government bond maturities was range-bound on Wednesday, as the yield curve nevertheless continued to flatten for the ninth consecutive market day.