In Asian Equity Markets stocks traded mixed on Wednesday trade as the overnight bounce on Wall Street stalled.  Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.1 percent and the broader Topix edged down by 0.13 percent. Automakers traded higher while bank stocks came under pressure. Elsewhere, South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index shed 0.31 percent, weighed down by declines in the technology sector as index bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.96 percent. Steelmakers were mostly lower, with Posco sliding 1.08 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.27 percent, supported by gains in consumption-related stocks, which are seen as defensive. Shares of Mengniu Dairy were higher by 0.72 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar eased against the yen on Wednesday, with the outlook clouded by worries that escalating U.S.-China trade tensions could exert a toll on the global economy and U.S. growth. The dollar fell 0.1 percent to 106.50 yen, giving back some of the gains made on Tuesday, when it rose 0.6 percent against the Japanese currency. The euro edged up 0.1 percent to $1.2274, regaining some footing after slipping 0.3 percent on Tuesday. The common currency had retreated on Tuesday after a survey showed the euro zone’s manufacturing boom faltered for a third month in March, although output remained robust.

In Commodities Markets oil edged up on Tuesday, supported by a recovery in the equities market and on a technical bounce for crude after the biggest daily percentage decline in almost a year. Brent crude futures gained 48 cents, or 0.7 percent, to settle at $68.12 a barrel. This followed a nearly 4 percent decline in Brent prices on Monday, the largest since June. Brent had risen to $71 a barrel last week, close to its highest this year. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 50 cents, or 0.8 percent, to settle at $63.51 a barrel. However, an expected increase in U.S. crude inventories limited price gains.

In US Equity Markets the three major U.S. stock indexes ended higher after a choppy session on Tuesday as investors looked forward to earnings season while the S&P 500 pushed above a key support level and Amazon.com shares jumped on bets that criticism from President Donald Trump would not translate to policy changes. The S&P 500 gained 1.26 percent, to 2,614.45 and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.04 percent, to 6,941.28. Tesla Inc shares gained 6 percent after the electric automaker said it need not raise more capital this year and announced robust production numbers for its cheaper Model 3 sedans.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields rose on Tuesday as stock markets firmed and as investors looked ahead to Friday’s closely watched employment report for March. Yields fell to two-month lows on Monday. This week’s major economic catalyst will be Friday’s jobs report, which will be watched for signs of accelerating jobs gains and wage pressures. U.S. benchmark 10-year Treasury note prices fell 14/32 in price on the day to yield 2.781 percent, after falling as low as 2.717 percent on Monday, the lowest since Feb. 6.