Tokyo, Japan – After a continuous seven-day winning streak, Asian shares paused briefly on Tuesday. The commodities market surged to a 15-month high, drawing the attention of traders. Investors are eagerly awaiting the earnings report from leading chipmaker Nvidia Corp. later this week.
Japanese stocks saw an increase in value, while South Korean shares experienced a slight decline. The MSCI’s all-country index, which has been on an eight-day winning streak, remained relatively unchanged during early Asian trading.
The Bloomberg Commodity Spot Index reached its highest level since January 2023 on Monday, with copper and gold prices near record highs. Wheat prices also saw a substantial surge, contributing to the overall increase in the commodities market.
In the U.S., the S&P 500 ended near record highs, with Nvidia being the last of the “Magnificent Seven” companies to report earnings this season. The tech giant has been driving the artificial intelligence market and received a boost from a positive analyst call. Investors are looking for strong demand for Nvidia’s chips to sustain the market momentum.
In Asia, the spotlight remains on China’s economic challenges, particularly in its struggling property sector. Fresh data indicates a lack of improvement in the debt-ridden property market. Local governments are facing fiscal strains as land sales revenue hits an eight-year low.
Meanwhile, the S&P 500 in the U.S. continues to set new records in 2024, with stocks experiencing a significant rally since late October. Optimism about a soft economic landing coupled with cooling inflation has led to speculation about potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Commodity traders are closely watching the markets to see if the recent surges in copper and gold prices can be sustained. Brent crude oil prices hovered around $84 a barrel, marking the first weekly increase this month. West Texas Intermediate settled near $80 a barrel, reflecting the ongoing volatility in the oil market.
Looking ahead, key events this week include speeches from several Fed officials, U.S. existing home sales data, the release of Fed meeting minutes, and Nvidia’s earnings report. The global market remains volatile, with geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties influencing investor sentiment.
