(22 JUNE 2020)DAILY MARKET BRIEF 1:Thin volumes

<p>Markets kicked off the week on a mixed note, as investors couldn’t decide on where to go next as two major opposite forces muddle the sentiment at the moment: the rise in new coronavirus cases and the massive monetary and fiscal interventions. Low volumes and high volatility were on the menu of Monday. Asian indices painted a mixed picture. Major Asian indices and US equity futures first slumped, then recovered into the afternoon session. The Nikkei (0.25%), the ASX 200 (+0.18%) and the Shanghai’s Composite (+0.28%) turned positive, but the Hang Seng (-0.32%) remained offered as news that China will open a bureau in Hong Kong to ‘lawfully handle national security cases’ and gather intelligence has not been a positive development for the HK’s freedom. The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) maintained its 1-year LPR rate unchanged for the second straight month despite the recent lockdown of certain food businesses near Beijing. The Dow futures tumbled over 200 points before switching to gains</p>