Index futures trading in Asia remained buoyant overnight

Index futures trading in Asia remained buoyant overnight, with Nikkei futures climbing 1.1% on strong robotics export data. Currency stability in USD/JPY provided additional support for equity bulls positioning for fiscal year-end gains. But even with the volatility, the metals are likely to perform well in the coming years, according to the International Energy Agency. The energy policy body has predicted that demand for lithium will grow fivefold by 2040 , while copper and cobalt will see demand increases of 30% and 50%, respectively. Excluding food, energy and trade, PPI posted a 0.3% gain. Index futures trading attracted algorithmic flows, pushing S&P futures above a key Fibonacci retracement level at 5315, signalling possible short-term bullish extension if macro data remains supportive.