Data from all corners of the US economy published on Wednesday underscored the extent of the collapse in consumer demand, industrial activity, and confidence, suggesting the hit from coronavirus lockdowns has probably been deeper even than feared.
Still, risk sentiment now seems to depend on how quickly economies can reopen without risking overloading healthcare systems if there's a secondary spreader.
So where does leave us at the end of the day in Asia?
US equity futures are powering higher again with the Euro Stoxx 50 in tow, so fingers crossed it was only a technical pause in our recent rally rather than a U-turn. To bad that most folks seem to be fighting this narrative.
Medium-term, the market set-up remains unclear as the debate around easing of social distancing rules is constantly rebooting expectations for a sharp V-shaped recovery.
Finally, short sale bans in France, Austria, Belgium, and Spain have been extended until May 18, and this isn't why the S&P 500 has donned the rally cap this afternoon. To me, that remains the most prominent mystery tour, but whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?
The Euro
The EUR/USD pair is still very much driven by risk sentiment, and ultimately rests on the greenbacks laurels, risk-off USD buying seems to have dominated yesterday after a set of weak data putting an end to the FX currency optimism. And more vulnerable oil prices are annoyingly bothersome to build commodity-based currency positions.
Re-emerging fears about relationships within the European Union could lead to a widening in Bund/periphery spreads, especially vs. Italy, and weighing on the single currency today. Overall volumes were light given the lack of clear market direction, so the pair might have a hard time recovering into the weekend.
Gold
London's macro investors like gold almost as much as bears like honey, with little thought to any cross-asset correlation. Stocks are higher and gold is higher. But this move has probably more to do with the US dollar coming off the interday highs.
Oil
As for the oil market, it looks like a case of what can't go up must come down. But nothing much has changed that much from this morning.