Overview
- Senate leaders moved toward a test vote to advance a bipartisan funding package after John Thune said talks had taken a positive turn, raising hopes the 40‑day shutdown could end soon.
- Equities firmed across Asia and futures rose in the U.S. and Europe, with Nasdaq contracts up roughly 0.8% and S&P 500 futures about 0.5%, while Japan’s Nikkei and the MSCI Asia ex‑Japan index gained.
- Australian markets tracked the rebound, with ASX 200 futures pointing to about a 0.3% rise and the index up roughly 0.3% by midday as miners, energy and banks recovered.
- Risk assets outperformed across asset classes as the 10‑year U.S. Treasury yield edged to around 4.12%, oil gained about 0.5%–0.8% (Brent near $64), and spot gold ticked higher.
- Key caveats persist, with House approval still required, the data blackout continuing, tech shares remaining a pressure point after a weak week for the Nasdaq, and consumer sentiment sliding to 50.3 in the latest Michigan survey.