In Asian Equity Markets trading was mixed on Wednesday. Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.47 percent, with sectors such as utilities and the heavily-weighted financials sub-index trading lower. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 traded up by 0.15 percent while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.14 percent. The Greater China markets were in negative territory in early trade. The Hang Seng index was down by 0.49 percent while the Shanghai composite and Shenzhen composite were lower by 0.6 and 0.672 respectively.

In Currency Markets the US dollar remained on the defensive on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on monetary policy continued to weigh on the greenback and as the markets awaited U.S.-China trade talks and Federal Reserve minutes for directional cues. Noticeable gainers against the dollar included the euro, which rose roughly 0.8 percent overnight, brushing a 12-day peak of $1.1601. The Australian dollar fell 0.25 percent to $0.7350 after advancing 0.4 percent overnight on the back of the dollar’s broad weakness.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Wednesday, supported by a drop in U.S. crude inventories and a weaker dollar, along with concerns about a potential shortfall of Iranian oil from November due to U.S. sanctions. Brent crude oil futures were at $72.83 per barrel, up 20 cents, or 0.3 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $66.12 per barrel. U.S. crude inventories fell by 5.2 million barrels in the week to Aug.17, to 405.6 million barrels, ahead of analysts’ forecasts for a fall of 1.5 million barrels.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 touched a record high on Tuesday and equaled its longest-ever bull-market run, buoyed by strong earnings reports in the consumer sector and relative calm in the trade dispute between the United States and China. The S&P 500 gained 0.21 percent, to 2,862.96 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.49 percent, to 7,859.17. The small-cap Russell 2000 index , which is less affected by global tariff disputes than its large-cap peers, ended the session up 1.1 percent at a record closing high.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields rose on Tuesday on improving risk appetite, though investors were keenly awaiting a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the end of the week. The release on Wednesday of the minutes from the Fed’s August meeting was also awaited. Benchmark 10-year notes fell 7/32 in price to yield 2.848 percent, up from a low of 2.815 percent on Monday, the lowest since July 6.