Key Global Events

Economic growth in China slows down. Data this morning show slower-than-expected growth at 6.3% year-on-year. On a quarterly basis the economy grew 0.8%.

Positive inflation data showing a decline toward target sent the U.S. dollar sinking to its lowest level in more than a year. Bets have strengthened that the FED may stop raising interest rates soon. 
Markets are currently 96 percent discounting a 25 basis point increase at the July 26 meeting.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agreement on grain transportation, Black Sea Grain Initiative was officially suspended today. Moscow indicated that the agreement will return only if its demands are met.

European stock exchanges continue the day on the downside. Wall Street indexes trade higher as U.S. listings open. Dow Jones +0.06%, S&P500 +0.16% and Nasdaq +0.31%.

Forex & Commodities

The euro and the pound trade in the negative. The Euro trades around 1.1226 (-0.02%). Sterling gives up 0.02% to 1.3085. Among commodities, metals and energy trade down. Oil trades below $75 (-0.68%). Gold trades around 1955 dollars an ounce (-0.47%).

Index

Asian stock markets were trading mixed. Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed at 32,391 giving up -0.09%. China's Hang Seng index closed trading at parity at 19,413.78.