In Asian Equity Markets stocks rose on Tuesday despite the Dow and the Nasdaq stumbling amid a decline in tech shares. In Australia, the ASX 200 climbed 0.39 percent, with most sectors notching gains. The heavily weighted financial sector gained 0.86 percent as major banking names in the country rose. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.67 percent while the Topix index gained 0.73 percent. Across the Korean Strait, the Kospi fell 0.22 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index rose 0.96 percent. Chinese mainland shares were also higher; the Shanghai composite was up 1.4 percent and the Shenzhen composite added 1.01 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar set a three-month high against a basket of currencies on Tuesday, having gained a boost as the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbed toward the psychologically key 3 percent level. The dollar set a two-month high of 108.87 yen and last stood at 108.82 yen, up 0.1 percent on the day. On Monday, the dollar had surged nearly 1 percent for its biggest daily percentage rise in almost a month, gaining added steam after breaching the 108 yen level. The euro held steady at $1.2209, having pared its losses after falling to $1.2185 earlier on Tuesday, the lowest for the common currency since March 1.

In Commodities Markets brent crude oil rose for sixth day on Tuesday, passing $75 a barrel, on expectations that supplies will tighten because fuel is rising at the same time the United States may impose sanctions against Iran and OPEC-led output cuts remain in place. Brent crude oil futures climbed to as high as $75.20 a barrel in early trading on Tuesday, the highest since Nov. 27, 2014. Brent was still at $75 a barrel at 0311 GMT up 29 cents, or 0.4 percent, from its last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $68.98 a barrel, up 34 cents, or 0.5 percent from their last settlement. On Thursday, WTI rose to as high as $69.56, the most since Nov. 28, 2014. Of the 11 major S&P sectors only telecom and healthcare were in positive territory.

In US Equity Markets indices ended mixed on Monday as concerns about soft smartphone demand weighed on tech stocks and pulled the Nasdaq lower while earnings optimism protected against deeper losses. The S&P 500 ended flat at 2,670.29 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.25 percent, to 7,128.60. Of the 11 major S&P sectors, six ended the session in positive territory, with the biggest percentage gain coming from the Telecom index. Aluminum company stocks fell as the United States opened the door to sanctions relief for Russian aluminum giant United Company Rusal Plc. Alcoa fell 13.9 percent and Arconic declined 4.8 percent, making it the biggest percentage loser on the S&P.

In Bond Markets U.S. bond prices fell on Monday, with the 10-year yield hitting its highest in over four years amid worries about the growing supply of government debt and accelerating inflation as oil and commodity prices climb. The U.S. Treasury Department will sell a combined $96 billion in coupon-bearing securities this week, starting with $32 billion in two-year notes on Tuesday. The yield on 10-year Treasury notes was 2.971 percent, up 2 basis points from late on Friday. It touched 2.998 percent earlier Monday, which was the highest since January 2014. The two-year yield was 2.474 percent, nearly 2 basis points higher on the day after hitting 2.478 percent earlier Monday, which was last seen in September 2008.