HONG KONG, March 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Asian markets fluctuated Wednesday as
investors await the latest news on the China-US trade talks, though
Australian stocks rose and the local dollar fell as weak economic growth data
fuelled speculation about a rate cut.
With expectations that Washington and Beijing will eventually strike a
tariffs deal already baked into equity prices, analysts say officials will
need to provide some clarity on progress to give markets another step up.
But there are warnings that with optimism so high, there could be a lot of
disappointment if the final deal does not live up to the hype, or the two
sides fail to even reach an agreement.
The talk is that high-level negotiations are ongoing in order to pave the
way for a signing ceremony between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this
month.
“A mid-March meeting … remains the expected next step, but if trade
representatives are unable to agree on the final terms of implementation and
enforcement measures, we could see the trade truce rally fade,” said OANDA
senior market analyst Edward Moya.
In morning trade Shanghai was up 0.7 percent, building on Tuesday’s rally
that came on the back of China’s decision to slash taxes and ramp up spending
as leaders look to pep up the stuttering economy.
Mainland Chinese markets are up more than 20 percent this year thanks to
trade hopes and following a series of monetary easing measures to kickstart
economic growth, which hit its slowest pace in three decades in 2018.
– Slow growth hits Aussie –
Hong Kong was up 0.5 percent though Tokyo went into the break 0.6 percent
lower.
Sydney was 0.5 percent higher after data showed Australia’s economy
virtually ground to a halt in October-December owing to tepid household
spending and a weakening housing market.
The news has fuelled speculation the central bank will have to cut already
record-low borrowing costs, sending the Australian dollar tumbling about 0.3
percent against the greenback.
Elsewhere Singapore was off 0.1 percent and Seoul fell 0.3 percent but
Manila piled on 0.7 percent while Wellington and Taipei were also up.
On currency markets the pound struggled to recover from losses against the
greenback after talks between British and EU negotiators failed to hammer out
a revised Brexit deal that Prime Minister Theresa May can pass through
parliament.
However, observers are optimistic an agreement can be reached and Britain
will not leave the bloc without a deal.
“Any deal that is agreed has a higher chance of getting voted through than
was the case in January when the deal was shot down by parliament,” said
James Hughes, chief market analyst at AxiTrader.
“Brexiteers fearful of Brexit being reversed could be more prone to back
May, provided she can get a legal concession” on customs on the Northern
Irish border.
– Key figures around 0230 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 percent at 21,603.10 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.5 percent at 29,109.61
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,075.23
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3150 from $1.3176 at 2140 GMT
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1302 from $1.1308
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 111.75 yen from 111.88 yen
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 45 cents at $56.11 per barrel
Oil – Brent Crude: DOWN 45 cents at $65.41 per barrel
New York – Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 25,806.63 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.7 percent at 7,183.43 (close)