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Asia followed suit, extending the recovery seen in the last couple of sessions to end last week.  Equities rose as did oil prices.   The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index rose 1.2%, and the Nikkei posted its first back-to-back gains this year.  Brentfirmed, with the March contract trading to $32.80.

However, in late-Asia and early Europe, the momentum fizzled.  Brent retreated $2 before finding support, and European equities edged lower before recovering in late-morning activity.  The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is practically flat near midday in London, and the S&P 500 are steady to firmer.

Core bond yields are softer though peripheral European bonds yields are mostly a little higher.  The prospects that the EU shifts its migration defense from the Turkish coast and the Aegean Sea to Greece’s Northern border with Macedonia adds another weight on Athens and pushing up bonds yields sharply.

The US dollar is somewhat softer against the euro, yen and Swiss franc, but firmer against the Canadian and Australian dollars.  It is mixed against the freely accessible emerging market currencies.    The euro had finished last week a little below $1.08.  Although it recovered, it has been unable to resurface above $1.0840.    Sterling peaked near $1.4360 before the weekend and struggled to sustain upticks above $1.4300 in Asia.  It spiked to $1.4235 in early European turnover, apparently awaiting fresh directional cues when US markets open.