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Asian stocks struggle while oil stabilises, Hong Kong drops again
HONG KONG, June 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Most Asian markets fell Friday on
geopolitical concerns, uncertainty over the China-US trade row and the
outlook for the global economy, while oil prices were flat after the previous
day’s surge fuelled by attacks on two tankers in the crucial Gulf of Oman.
Hong Kong was again on the back foot, losing 0.7 percent, after the city
was rocked this week by violent protests against government plans for a law
that would allow extraditions to China and which observers warn could erode
its attraction to businesses.
Trading floors have been the scene of unease for weeks since Donald
Trump’s shock decision to hit China with higher tariffs despite expectations
the two sides were close to a deal to end their long-running stand-off.
Shanghai tumbled one percent, Singapore shed 0.2 percent and Seoul lost
0.4 percent while Taipei was off 0.3 percent. Mumbai, Bangkok, Manila and
Jakarta also fell, though Tokyo ended 0.4 percent higher and Sydney gained
0.2 percent.
In early European trade London dipped 0.2 percent, Paris eased 0.3 percent
and Frankfurt fell 0.4 percent.
The uneasiness over the past week has seen the price of gold hit a 15-
month high of around $1,360 per ounce as traders look for safer assets to
hide from the uncertainty on world markets.
Eyes are now on the G20 summit in Japan later this month where the
president and his Chinese counterpart are expected to meet to discuss the
issue, though Washington has been playing down the chances of a deal being
struck.
However, support has come from bets that the Federal Reserve will cut
interest rates soon as the economy stutters and the trade war rumbles along.
“What’s important to remember right now is that there aren’t a whole lot
of upside catalysts,” Randy Frederick, vice president for trading and
derivatives at Charles Schwab & Co, told Bloomberg TV.
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“Markets are waiting now for what the Fed is going to say at the meeting,
and that’s coming next week.”
Adding to the downbeat mood are concerns about tensions in the Middle East
after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of responsibility for
the Gulf tankers attack and said they would be raised at a UN Security
Council meeting later Thursday.
Tehran denies the accusation and labelled the attacks in the world’s most
important crude shipping lane as “suspicious”.
The news sent the price of crude surging more than four percent at one
point Thursday, having been deep in the red owing to supply and demand
worries.
– ‘Escalation unlikely’ –
Analysts said that while the issue was a cause for concern, crude would
remain under pressure owing to the trade war, elevated US production and
stockpiles and questions over Russia’s commitment to an output cap deal with
OPEC.
On Friday Brent was slightly up while WTI dipped a tad.
“A military escalation (between the US and Iran) is unlikely,” said
Stephen Innes, managing partner at Vanguard Markets.
“And given the market’s tendency to quickly sidestep lone wolf or small
group terrorist attacks oil prices have come off the boil as traders pivot
back to the task at hand, which is accurately positioning around… massive
US inventory builds amidst the deteriorating global economic backdrop.”
Regional energy firms rose on the oil price jump with Sydney-listed
Woodside Petroleum added nearly two percent and Rio Tinto more than three
percent up, while Inpex gained 1.3 percent in Tokyo.
PetroChina and Sinopec gained in Hong Kong but the rises were limited
while CNOOC was down, hit by caution after this week’s demonstrations in Hong
Kong.
The Hang Seng Index was on course for a third straight loss with analysts
pointing to a tightening of liquidity in the city’s financial system that has
seen the amount banks charge each other for borrowing cash hit a more than
10-year high. This has pushed the local dollar to highs not seen since the
end of last year.
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Experts said this has been caused by a number of factors including
seasonal withdrawals such as for dividend payments and dealers preparing for
new listings — particularly of tech giant Alibaba.
But they also suggested concerns about the protests and the possible
implementation of the extradition law could also be playing a role, leading
investors to take cash out of the city.
“Make no mistake, this is a massive deal for Hong Kong as if the bill is
passed it will most certainly erode the rule of law and autonomy which has
been the pillar of Hong Kong’s financial prosperity,” Innes warned.
– Key figures around 0720 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.4 percent at 21,116.89 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.7 percent at 27,091.38
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.0 percent at 2,881.12 (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,352.44
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 12 cents at $52.16 per barrel
Oil – Brent North Sea: UP seven cents at $61.38 per barrel
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1280 from $1.1276 at 2100 GMT
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2672 from $1.2674
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.24 yen from 108.38 yen
New York – Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 26,106.77 (close)
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