– US indices finished yesterday’s slightly lower, following a downbeat European session. S&P 500 dropped 0.43%, Dow Jones moved 0.34% lower and Nasdaq declined 0.95%. Russell 2000 dropped 0.23%
– Stocks in Asia traded mostly lower with Nikkei dropped 2%, S&P/ASX 200 moving 0.9% lower and Kospi finishing more or less flat. Indices from China traded mixed
– DAX futures point to a flat opening of the European cash trading session today
– Russia allowed Ukraine to send a repair team to Chernobyl nuclear power plant in order to repair damaged power supply
– Media reported about Russian air strikes on locations in western Ukraine, possibly targeting supply lines
– The United Nations Security Council will convene today to discuss Russia’s claims of US chemical weapons in Ukraine. US says the move fits into narrative that Russia is preparing a false flag operation involving such weapons
– Biden is expected to call for the end of Russia’s preferential trade status during his speech today (3:15 pm GMT)
– Japan announced that it will freeze assets of 3 Belarusian banks, beginning from April
– Canada is studying whether it can boost utilization of its oil pipelines to the US
– London Metal Exchange announced that nickel trading will not be resumed today
– Japanese household spending increased 6.9% YoY in January (exp. 3.6% YoY)
– Oil trades slightly higher on the day. Brent trades slightly below $111 per barrel while WTI trades slightly above $107 per barrel
– Precious metals pull back. Palladium is an exception as it gains around 1%
– EUR and GBP are the best performing major currencies while JPY and NZD lag the most