[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac trades mixed amid the mass holiday closures on Good Friday, while DXY takes a breather after reclaiming the 100.00 status and with the NFP report on the horizon

EQUITIES

APAC Stocks: Mixed

• Asia-Pac stocks are mixed in extremely-thinned, holiday-quietened trade with markets in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Philippines, EU, UK and the US, among the mass closures across the world on Friday.

Nikkei 225: +0.9%

• Climbed higher at the open and reclaimed the 53,000 level in a rebound from the prior day's losses, but has since pared some of the gains amid the absence of any bullish catalysts to sustain the momentum.

Shanghai Comp: Shanghai Comp -0.5%

• Trades subdued following the PBoC's continued meagre liquidity operations and with Stock Connect flows shut for several days due to the consecutive holiday closures in Hong Kong, which won't reopen until Wednesday, while participants also digest disappointing Chinese RatingDog Services PMI data.

US Equity Futures: -0.1%

• Marginally softened as it takes a breather following the prior day's intraday rebound.

FX

DXY: Flat

• Dollar takes a breather after climbing yesterday to return to the 100.00 level in tandem with the upside in oil prices, but is off the prior day's best levels as risk assets found some solace on reports that Iran and Oman are working on a protocol to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Nonetheless, price action is quiet overnight alongside the mass holiday closures for Good Friday, while participants also await the latest NFP report.

EUR/USD: -0.1%

• Remains subdued after recent selling pressure and with the latest comments from ECB officials having little impact, in which Panetta noted leading indicators are pointing towards a slowdown in the economy, while Simkus said caution is needed on rates and that it is too early to say what is needed at the April meeting.

GBP/USD: Flat

• Trades sideways overnight after partially rebounding from a brief dip beneath the 1.3200 handle, while price action is restricted with very few fresh catalysts from the UK to support its currency, and amid the holiday closure of the world's largest FX trading hub.

USD/JPY: +0.1%

• Ekes slight gains after recent dollar strength and surge in oil prices, while further jawboning by Japanese Finance Minister Katayama failed to garner any meaningful reaction, in which she stated that Japan has signalled its willingness to respond firmly to FX market fluctuations and that they are prepared to respond on all fronts, bearing in mind that this volatility is impacting people's lives.

Antipodeans: AUD/USD +0.1% / NZD/USD -0.1%

• Rangebound trade in the absence of participants amid the holiday closures on both sides of the Tasman.

FIXED INCOME

USTs: -1 tick

• Struggles for direction after the prior day's two-way price action and with US cash markets shut on Friday.

JGBs: -2 ticks

• Lacks conviction after slumping yesterday as a surge in oil prices stoked inflationary concerns, with trade kept to within tight parameters amid the mass holiday closures across the world and the absence of any tier-1 data from Japan.