• Japan -0.26%. Jibun Bank/Markit Services PMI 47.4(prior 48.0) & Composite 48.8 (prior 48.9).
• Comments from IHS Markit: "The Japanese services economy signalled that demand conditions remained subdued in the wake of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases in July."
• China +0.56%. The Caixin/Markit Services PMI for July came in at 54.9, higher than estimate of 50.6 and up from June’s reading of 50.3.
• However, China’s recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases since late July is set to overshadow its services sector and weaken the economic outlook amid newly imposed stringent lockdown and quarantine measures.
• China reported 96 new confirmed coronavirus cases for Aug. 3, of which 71 were locally transmitted.
• Official non-manufacturing PMI, including the construction activity,fell slightly to 53.3 in July, compared with June’s 53.5.
• Hong Kong +1.57%.
• Australia +0.36%. Retail Sales for June fell 1.8% M/M, in-line with preliminary reading, prior +0.4%.
• Q2 retail sales +0.8% Q/Q vs. +0.9% expected.
• Australia Markit Services PMI for July (final) 44.2, lower than prior reading of 56.8. Composite PMI 45.2.
• Overnight on Wall Street, S&P 500 gained 0.82% to 4,423.15; Dow Jones jumped 0.8% or 278.24 points to 35,116.40 while NASDAQ advanced 0.55% to about 14,761.30.
• Oil prices were lower, with Brent crude futures down 0.39% to $72.13/barrel. U.S. crude futures shed 0.54% to $70.18/barrel.
• U.S. stock futures mostly lower. Dow Jones -0.07%; S&P 500 -0.08%; Nasdaq +0.01%.