Asia Stocks Extend Rise, GBP/USD and FTSE 100 Eye Brexit Deal Vote

Asia Pacific Markets Wrap Talking Point

• Asia stocks follow gains on Wall Street

• GBP rallies as Japanese Yen decline

• FTSE 100, equities eye Brexit deal vote

Find out what retail traders equities buy and sell decisions say about the coming price trend!

Sentiment-supportive fundamental developments led Asia Pacific benchmark stock indexes higher despite technical cues of a bearish reversal in global equities. In the prior Wall Street trading session, the S&P 500 soared following upbeat US retail sales data. Then, just before APAC stocks began trading on Tuesday, the markets welcomed Theresa Mays now-revised Brexit deal ahead of a critical vote in Parliament.

Japan‘s Nikkei 225 was one of the best-performing indexes, rallying over two percent heading into the afternoon close. It is now on pace for its most impressive week since mid-February. Meanwhile, China’s state-run agency Xinhua, reported that arrangements are being made towards the next step of trade talks with the US. China‘s Shanghai Composite was up over 1.6% while Australia’s ASX 200 climbed about 0.3%.

Taking a look at the major currencies, the British Pound held on to most of its gains on the Brexit developments. But a clear technical break to the upside in GBP/USD was understandably lacking given critical event risk to come. The anti-risk Japanese Yen underperformed as risk appetite likely fueled interest in carry trades. But, the pro-risk Australian Dollar was relatively neutral thanks to soft business confidence.

Arguably, the top-tier event that carries broad implications for financial markets across the world is the vote in UK Parliament on Theresa May‘s revised Brexit deal later on Tuesday. The risks for Sterling are arguably now tilted to the downside, as it now has more room to pare gains should May’s divorce agreement fail to muster enough votes. The same could also be said for equities.

FTSE 100 Technical Analysi

The FTSE 100 has been consolidating under a resistance range between 7227 and 7267. This area acted as former support back in September. Current support seems to be a boundary between 7071 and 7041. Whichever the outcome of Tuesdays Brexit deal vote, said fundamental backdrop may inspire a break and we shall see if it will be uptrend continuation, or topping.

FTSE 100 Daily Chart

Chart Created in TradingView