Asian markets indicate a mixed start in the session before the holidays

Asian markets are expected to launch mixed, with volumes remaining extremely low. Investors are already preparing for the holidays. Currencies remain little changed as the Asian session enters.

Japan's futures are trading higher and in Hong Kong they are almost flat. Australian markets are trading down. The futures of the S & P500 are also trading poorly. The yield curve has been rising at its steepest pace for more than a year, showing at what rate the recession worries simply evaporate.

Elsewhere, oil stays declining, on track to wipe out its entire weekly growth. The pound remains stable after its worst weekly decline of more than 2 years amid concerns that the EU and the UK will have difficulties in reaching a trade deal in 2020.

The Nikkei 225 is up about 0.3%. ASX200 is down 0.1%, Hang Seng remains flat.

The Japanese yen is trading at 109.47, the offshore yuan at 7.0005, the euro at 1.1078 and the British pound at 1.3000.

Oil is down about 0.1% and gold is down 0.2%.

Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.

Graphs: Used with permission of Bloomberg Finance L.P.

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