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Asian markets perked up by positive China-US trade news
HONG KONG, Dec 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Asian markets enjoyed healthy buying
interest Wednesday on much-needed good news on the China-US trade talks,
while energy firms rallied with oil prices, though the pound remained beaten
down by Brexit woes.
A flurry of positive developments in the tariffs stand-off between the
world’s top economies provided some early Christmas cheer on trading floors,
fuelling hopes they can avert an all-out trade war.
Canada on Tuesday released on bail Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer
at Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, whose arrest last week sparked fury in
Beijing and worries about a truce agreed at the G20 by Donald Trump and Xi
Jinping this month.
Providing some extra support to the news of Meng’s release was an
interview in which Trump said he could intervene in the case if it helps seal
a trade pact with China, adding: “Whatever’s good for this country, I would
do.”
China added to market-friendly noise by saying it had agreed to cut
tariffs on US autos to 15 percent from 40 percent — wiping out a levy
imposed earlier this year in response to US measures.
Investors welcomed the headlines — despite news China had detained a
former Canadian diplomat who served in Beijing — fuelling a surge in
regional markets.
Tokyo ended the morning session 1.9 percent higher, while Hong Kong jumped
1.4 percent and Shanghai gained 0.3 percent.
Sydney rose 0.7 percent and Seoul jumped 1.3 percent, while Taipei and
Wellington chalked up 0.8 percent gains.
“Last week, events seemed to conspire to throw the truce into disarray,
but the underlying incentives of both sides at the moment are to try to
maintain that truce,” said Freya Beamish, chief Asia economist at Pantheon
Macroeconomics, told Bloomberg News.
“Now we are seeing the possibility that China will come through with
reductions of tariffs on US autos, and that’s another good, concrete step.”
– May on the precipice? –
MORE/MR/ 1100 hrs
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Car firms across Asia tracked gains in their US counterparts as the China
tariffs news lifted optimism in the auto market with Hyundai three percent
higher in Seoul while in Tokyo Toyota was up 2.4 percent in and Mitsubishi
added three percent.
And energy firms were also well up after data showed a massive drop in US
stockpiles, indicating a pick-up in demand to offset worries about a global
supply glut that has hurt prices.
Both main crude contracts were more than one percent higher.
But it is not all rosy.
Prime Minister Theresa May, touring Europe to win help in pushing her
Brexit deal through parliament after delaying a vote this week, was told she
will not be able to renegotiate, leaving Britain facing an EU divorce with no
deal.
The pound duly tanked two percent Tuesday and, with May facing a possible
leadership challenge, the country another general election and the economy
months of uncertainty, there are fears it could drop further.
No new date has been set for the key vote on her deal to be held.
“With no resolution within sight, the pound is likely to remain volatile
for at least a few more weeks, if not months,” said National Australia Bank
senior strategist at Rodrigo Catril.
There was also unease in some quarters after Trump threatened to shut down
the government if Democrats, who will control the House of Representatives
from next month, do not meet his demand for $5 billion to build a wall
between Mexico and the United States.
– Key figures around 0230 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.9 percent at 21,546.43 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 1.4 percent at 26,132.84
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 2,602.87
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2506 from $1.2481 at 2150 GMT
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1332 from $1.1319
Dollar/yen: UP at 113.50 yen from 113.40 yen
Oil – West Texas Intermediate UP 62 cents at $52.27 per barrel
Oil – Brent Crude: UP 67 cents at $60.87 per barrel
New York – Dow Jones: DOWN 0.2 percent at 24,370.24 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 1.3 percent at 6,806.94 (close)
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1100 hrs