The
preliminary PMI reading from Japan for July showed at 52.1, unchanged
from the month before, as business activity register expansion for
the 7th
month in a row. Manufacturing remained in contraction while Services
remained firmly in expansion and down just slightly from June.

Australia’s
flash PMIs were not so encouraging, all 3 are in contraction in July.

In
news flow there is not much to report of impact for forex.

Central
bank news was only the People’s Bank of China setting the USD/CNY
reference rate well below the estimate again today. The Bank has
held the yuan stronger since its lows 3 weeks ago:

Asian
equity markets:

  • Japan’s Nikkei 225 +1%

  • China’s Shanghai Composite +0.3%

  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng -1%

  • South Korea’s KOSPI +0.7%

  • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 +0.05%

Bitcoin gave ground back during the session after a move up over the weekend.