Investors More Worried About US Despot Trump Than North Korea's Kim

U.S. President Donald Trump is a bigger concern to financial markets than North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un -- judging by traders’ reactions this year.

South Korea’s Kospi stock index was down 0.8% in afternoon trading Wednesday, hours after Trump told reporters “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Trump told reporters in Bedminster, New Jersey. “They will be met with fire, fury and, frankly, power the likes of which this world has never seen before.”

Traders in Seoul, about 24 miles from the border with the nuclear-armed North, also took the won down 0.9 percent. That’s a bigger reaction than after North Korean provocations:

•     Kospi fell 0.6% and won dropped 0.3% on July 4 after North Korea warned it would make an important announcement (which turned out to be an ICBM launch)
•     Kospi rose 0.1% and won gained 0.3% on July 31, the first trading day after the second ICBM launch

Investors have decades of experience observing North Korean threats. But with Trump, they’re still learning to deal with his unpredictable reactions.


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European markets Trading Floor update

European markets were trading cautiously this morning. The FTSE and DAX opened up 0.2% while the CAC and Euro Stoxx were up by 0.1%.

The FTSE was topped by Kingfisher and Randgold Resources, while Burberry and Vedanta Resources recorded losses. Citigroup reported positive net income figures for the three months to the end of June.

Looking at the foreign exchange market, the euro and Australian dollar appreciated against the US dollar ahead of Bernanke's Testimony taking place on Wednesday. The rates were 0.9177 for AUD/USD and 1.3069 for EUR/USD. GBP/USD, on the other hand, was trading slightly lower at 1.5090 this morning.