HONG KONG, Dec 19, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Most markets were mixed in Asia
Wednesday as investors moved cautiously after the previous day’s sell-off,
while focus is on a Federal Reserve policy decision with opinions split on
whether or not it should hike interest rates again.
Oil prices also edged up but were struggling to make a dent in the steep
losses sustained Tuesday as traders fret over a global supply glut, higher
production and the outlook for demand.
With the US economy still healthy, the Fed’s board has been steadily
lifting borrowing costs for the past couple of years as it treads a fine line
between maintaining growth and keeping inflation in check.
However, its last meeting of 2018 has taken on major significance as the
sell-off in equities this year, signs of slowing across the planet —
including the US — and a series of other negative factors including the
China trade row put pressure on the bank to pause.
Donald Trump has spent most of the year lambasting the Fed for its policy
of monetary tightening and has called on it “not to make yet another mistake”
Wednesday.
And while the bank has ignored his calls — and is tipped to hike again
before slowing the pace next year — a number of economists and commentators
are also now suggesting a break could be in order.
“While US economic signals are not flashing red, to keep the US economic
momentum heading in the right direction many market participants believe the
Fed should provide investors with some breathing room (as) higher interest
rates coupled with tighter liquidity conditions have sent equity markets on a
downward spiral since October,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific
trade at OANDA.
– ‘Sign of weakness’ –
But Tai Hui, chief market strategist for Asia-Pacific at JP Morgan Asset
Management, warned that such a move could have bad consequences.
“The important point to note for this … meeting is whether the
committee’s median forecasts on the policy rate will have been impacted by
recent market volatility,” he said.
“Given the cautious market sentiment, a slower pace of rate rises could be
interpreted as a sign of weakness and put more pressure on risk assets.”
Uncertainty stalked Asia trading floors Wednesday. Hong Kong edged up 0.1
percent but Shanghai was down 0.3 percent and Sydney shed 0.5 percent.
Tokyo was down 0.4 percent at the break, with shares in the mobile unit of
telecoms titan Softbank plunging nine percent on their debut despite a
record-breaking IPO that raised more than $23 billion.
Singapore and Taipei each added 0.4 percent, Seoul gained 0.6 percent,
while Wellington rose 0.7 percent. Manila and Jakarta were also higher.
Adding to nervousness is the prospect of a US government shutdown with
Trump and congressional leaders at loggerheads over funding for his Mexican
border wall. Several departments are expected to close if a deal is not
agreed by the weekend, with both sides digging in their positions.
Energy firms were among the worst performers after oil prices tanked
Tuesday, with Brent more than five percent lower and WTI shedding more than
seven percent. Both main contracts edged up marginally in early Asian trade.
The losses came on worries about OPEC and Russia’s commitment to slash
output — as they pledged last month — a US government report forecasting
surging shale-oil production and concerns about the impact on demand from a
slowdown in the global economy.
“The toxic combination for oversupply worries and global growth distress
should see oil prices languish into year-end as negative momentum is leading
price action while the holiday season is keeping investor money parked on the
sidelines,” said OANDA’s Innes.
– Key figures around 0300 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 21,025.10 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.1 percent at 25,832.83
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 2,569.90
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1382 from $1.1365
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 112.40 yen from 112.51 yen
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2665 from $1.2641 at 2140 GMT
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP 37 cents at $46.61 per barrel
Oil – Brent Crude: UP 48 cents at $56.74 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 23,675.64 (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 1.1 percent at 6,701.59 (close)