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Asia markets rise as China-US trade deal buoys sentiment
HONG KONG, Dec 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Most Asian markets rose Tuesday
following another record-breaking lead from Wall Street, with the China-US
trade deal providing further support, though sterling took a battering as
fresh fears of a no-deal Brexit emerged.
Christmas cheer continues to flow through trading floors after Friday’s
agreement between the world’s top two economies ended months of wrangling and
removed any immediate uncertainty.
The deal, which will see Washington wind back some tariffs and China ramp
up purchases of US goods as well as change its trade practices, sparked a
surge in equities that continued Monday in New York, with all three main
indexes ending at all-time highs.
And, while Asia saw a slight wobble Monday, the optimism seeped into the
region in early business, With Hong Kong and Shanghai rallying more than one
percent, while Tokyo ended 0.5 percent higher.
Seoul and Taipei both also jumped more than one percent, while there were
also gains for Mumbai, Bangkok, Taipei, Wellington and Jakarta, though
Sydney, Singapore and Manila were marginally lower.
But while the news has been met with broad relief, observers point out
that the deal is only the first — and easiest — part of a wider agreement
many think could take years to complete.
There are also concerns about the lack of detail and questions about how
the two sides will implement the pact.
“Some salient doubts remain, of course, about the interim trade deal,”
said Jeffrey Halley at OANDA, adding that they also had yet to sign anything.
“The supposed phase-two talks promise to take negotiation complexity to
another level in 2020. A fundamental clash of doctrines between East and West
on the mechanics of capitalism beckons, and I for one, have serious doubts
about as to whether a fabled ‘comprehensive’ deal will emerge next year at
all,” he said.
– ‘Coal in the holiday stocking’ –
On currency markets the pound took a hit from reports that Prime Minister
Boris Johnson is planning to bring in a law making sure the next phase of
Brexit is not extended beyond the end of 2020, reviving fears of a no-deal
divorce.
While Johnson, fresh from a stunning election victory, will be able to
push through his EU agreement before January 31, he will then have to hammer
out fresh trading terms.
But there is a fear that the 11-month timeframe he has set himself to
complete that is nowhere near long enough, meaning Britain could completely
break free without any kind of plan for trading with the bloc.
The reports sent sterling tumbling from $1.3422 to $1.3226 before edging
back up slightly. The pound had been sitting around 18-month highs in the
wake of Johnson’s stunning win, which ended years of political uncertainty.
“The honeymoon of the election is now over and the risks of a potential
hard Brexit have been brought forward,” Kyle Rodda, an analyst at IG Market,
told Bloomberg News.
“Johnson is taking an assertive stance on Brexit and although a hard
divorce may still be in the margins for now, there are increasing risk
premiums priced into the pound.”
And Stephen Innes at AxiTrader added that traders had “received the
proverbial lump of coal in the holiday stocking”.
– Key figures around 0720 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.5 percent at 24,066.12 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 1.1 percent at 27,799.93
Shanghai – Composite: UP 1.3 percent at 3,022.42 (close)
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3258 from $1.3286 at 2300 GMT
Euro/pound: UP at 84.01 pence from 83.82 pence
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1142 from $1.1139
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 109.57 yen from 109.60 yen
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN one cent at $60.20 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP one cent at $65.35 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 28,235.89 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 2.3 percent at 7,5519.05 (close)
BSS/AFP/RY/1414 hrs