Stocks Head For Mixed Open After Strong Recent Run: Markets Wrap

(Bloomberg) -- Stocks in Asia were set for a muted open to Monday trading following a strong start to the year that’s left global equities at record highs.There were no standout movements in currency markets in early Monday trading, ahead of the open for bonds and stocks. Futures on Asia Pacific markets ended last week mixed. The S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq Composite Index both set record highs on Friday. U.S. equity and bond markets are shut for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.Indicators of economic health from China and the U.S. last week provided some solace for investors concerned about the fragile global outlook. Attention this week turns back to corporate fundamentals, with the earnings season ramping up.“Improving global growth and still easy monetary conditions should drive reasonable investment returns” this year, said Diana Mousina, an economist at AMP Capital Investors Ltd. in Sydney. “So far earnings growth looks decent.”Meanwhile, oil traders will be watching developments in Libya, where one of the country’s commanders blocked crude exports at ports under his control, slashing output by more than half. World leaders are working in Germany toward a more durable cease-fire in Libya’s civil war.Here are some events to watch out for this week:Companies including Netflix, IBM, UBS, Procter & Gamble and Hyundai will post results.Policy decisions are due from central banks including Japan, Canada, Indonesia and the European Central Bank.The World Economic Forum, the annual gathering of global leaders in politics, business and culture, opens in Davos, Switzerland.These are the main moves in markets:StocksThe S&P 500 rose 0.4% on Friday.Futures on Japan’s Nikkei 225 were little changed.Hang Seng futures added 0.1%.Futures on Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 0.5%.CurrenciesThe yen was at 110.65 per dollar.The offshore yuan held at 6.8628 per dollar.The euro bought $1.1094, little changed.BondsThe yield on 10-year Treasuries ended Friday at 1.82%.CommoditiesWest Texas Intermediate crude ended Friday at $58.54 a barrel.Gold was at $1,557.24 an ounce.To contact the reporter on this story: Adam Haigh in Sydney at ahaigh1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Christopher Anstey at canstey@bloomberg.net, Cormac MullenFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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