Risk markets dip mildly this week so far but losses are so far limited. DJIA closed slightly lower by -34.82 pts, or -0.2%, at 17705.91. S&P 500, on the other hand, rose 1.55 pts, or 0.08%, to close at 2058.89. Asian markets are mixed with Nikkei trading higher by 1% at the time of writing. Elsewhere, WTI crude oil is pressing the lower side of recent range at 43 while gold is back pressing 1260. The dollar index, on the other hand, extended last week's rebound and is now at 94.20. The greenback is so far the second strongest major currency this week, next to Swiss Franc. Meanwhile, commodity currencies are generally under pressure, next to yen.
In US, Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said that current monetary policy is "about right" and " just looking at the raw data, it says we should be accommodative". He preferred not to "prejudge" the chance of a June hike and the number of hikes this year "totally depend on how the economy performs." Chicago Fed president Charles Evans said "the continuation of 'wait and see' monetary policy response is appropriate to ensure that economic growth continues." Meanwhile, "overshooting a little bit just to make sure you get to 2 percent strikes me as being quite sensible."
In Eurozone, ECB vice president Vitor Constâncio said that "data points towards a continued moderate recovery, which is nonetheless still subject to fragilities." And, "ECB will continue to do what is necessary to achieve its goal of reaching a level of inflation close to 2% and enough policy tools can still be used." He said that the central banks' policy "has been effective" but "we have to allow some time for the package of measures adopted in March to produce its effects, while closely monitoring external developments."
On the data front, UK BRC sales monitor dropped -0.9% yoy in April. China CPI was unchanged at 2.3% yoy in April, PPI rose to -3.4% yoy. Swiss unemployment rate, German industrial production, trade balance and UK trade balance will be released in European session. US will release wholesale inventories.