Stock markets across Asia were higher today following last weekās pullback. Hong Kongās Hang Seng Index was up 1.1% after having its biggest one-week decline since December. Australiaās S&P/ASX 200 added 0.5% and Singaporeās Straits Times Index rose 0.6%, with buying across sectors. On Saturday U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson wrote in the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration seeks diplomatic solutions to seek the āirreversible denuclearizationā of North Korea.
September crude oil is up 0.2%, to $48.92 a barrel on the New York Merc. It touched low of $48.37 in early trading, it last settled there in late July. Both the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Energy Agency last week said oil production from the cartel had risen in July to almost reach 33 million barrels a day. The increased production came as Libya, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia ramped up output in the period, fueling concerns OPECās efforts to cut production are not working.
Serving the West Side first, I am Bill Roller of BR Capital for 1360 KUIK.
