– Main indices in Asia Pacific started the day in mixed moods. 

– Stocks opened higher in Japan amid optimism about corporate earnings, while South Korea’s KOSPI declined almost -1.5%. Futures on stocks in Hong Kong are down, while financial markets in Australia and New Zealand are closed on Tuesday due to a holiday. 

– DAX and US500 futures are down -0.3% before opening. 

– Oil is slightly up today after yesterday’s bigger losses. Currently, the price is $82.5 and is up 0.1%. 

– Natural gas prices are mixed, with NATGAS down 0.65%, while LS GASOIL and GASOLINE are up. 

– In the agricultural commodities market, we are observing slight declines in most contracts, with Wheat losing -1%. 

– Gold is up 0.22% and is trading at $1993 per ounce – close to support at $2000. 

– Cryptocurrencies are losing for another day in a row, with ETH down 0.44% and trading at $1822, and BTC losing almost -0.16% at a price of $27335. 

– Philip Lane from ECB said that after May 4, so after key data from the EU and after the FED meeting on May 2-3, further interest rate hikes will depend on incoming data. Current data suggests a 50 bp increase at the next ECB meeting. 

– BoJ’s Governor Ueda said cost-push factors are driving Japan’s inflation.