Asia ended the week showing aversion to.......>

FOREX: Asia ended the week showing aversion to riskier assets, with liquidity

thinned by market holidays across the region & many participants in Japan taking

a couple of days off to stay home for the full Golden Week. Worrying aspects of

earnings reports from Amazon and Apple drew attention early on, with focus

quickly moving to escalating mutual Sino-U.S. sabre rattling. 

- The Antipodeans were in retreat as weak local data amplified pressure from the

wider risk-off feel. Australia's AiG M'fing PMI tumbled close to its record low

from 2009, with final CBA counterpart revised a tad lower. Across the ditch, New

Zealand's ANZ Consumer Confidence plunged to the worst level on record. USD, JPY

and CHF were in demand as participants hunted for safety.

- USD/CNH staged a decent surge, punching through CNH7.1095, the high of Apr 21

and a key near-term resistance. The rate was pushed higher by U.S.-China

tensions, with BBG circulating a source report noting that U.S. Pres Trump is

"exploring blocking a gov't retirement fund from investing in Chinese equities".

- Manufacturing PMI Surveys are due out of the U.S., Canada and the UK later in

the day. Most of Europe will be shut for May Day.