Active Thursday in Global Markets!

Active Thursday in Global Markets! Global markets are experiencing an active Thursday. While most of the Asian stocks soared in Thursday's trading, the agreement on the draft text of the trade agreement following Brexit, calmed investors ahead of the Christmas holiday period. This situation caused the Pound to rise. Japan and Australia shares climbed. South Korea stocks increased. U.S. equity futures soared after the index closed with 0.1 percent gain on Wednesday. Nasdaq Compound and Russell 2000 indices broke new records during the day. Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, traded in Hong Kong, lost more than 8 percent after China launched an investigation against Alibaba due to its monopolistic attitude. US Treasury Bonds did not change much after the 5-30-year rate spread reached its highest level in 4 years on Wednesday. Volumes in many countries remained at a low level on Thursday. All derivatives on Eurex have stopped trading and most stock markets will be closed for Christmas on Friday. Britain and the European Union (EU) agreed on a draft text of a historic post-Brexit trade agreement. An announcement is expected that the deal was reached in Europe Thursday morning. Investors, who are not affected much by the US President Donald Trump's request for a change in the coronavirus incentive package, expect the incentive spending to be absolute. Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE began preparations to double the coronavirus vaccine supply to the US and UK. In England, where the epidemic was mutated, Prime Minister Boris Johnson tightened the measures.   Stocks S&P 500 Index futures gained 0.2 percent at 2:24 pm Tokyo time. The index rose 0.1 percent on Wednesday. In Japan, the Topix Index rose 0.5 percent. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rose 0.2 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4 percent. In South Korea, the Kospi Index rose 1.8 percent. In Australia, the S & P / ASX 200 Index rose 0.3 percent. FTSE 100 Index futures rose 0.5 percent.   Foreign currency The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.1 percent. The yen found buyers at 103.57 against the dollar. Euro / Dollar parity was traded 0.2 percent plus 1.2207. The pound rose 0.5 percent to 1.3555. The offshore yuan rose 0.1 percent to 6.5222.   Bonds The yield of 10-year Treasury bonds in the US increased by 1 basis point to 0.95 percent. The Australian 10-year yield rose 6 basis points to 0.99 percent.   Commodity WTI oil reached the level of $ 48.47 a barrel with a 0.7 percent gain. Gold rose 0.2 percent to $ 1,876.98 an ounce.