Asian Shares Mixed Ahead Of Fed Chair's Testimony

RTTNews | 720 days ago

(RTTNews) - Asian stocks ended mixed on Tuesday, the dollar treaded water and bond yields eased amid bets that Fed Chair Jerome Powell will sound less hawkish during a two-day testimony before Congress, being later in the day.

Chinese and Hong Kong markets ended sharply lower after China's new foreign minister Qin Gang warned of a potential conflict with the U.S. if Washington does not soften its rhetoric against China.

On the sidelines of the "two sessions" political gathering, he outlined China's foreign policy agenda for the coming years. He signaled closer ties with Russia and termed thee relationship with the U.S. and its allies as a source of tension and conflict.

Meanwhile, China's exports and imports continued their recent declines at the start of the year, combined figures for January and February showed.

China's Shanghai Composite index fell 1.11 percent to 3,285.10 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.33 percent to settle at 20,534.48.

Japanese shares eked out modest gains to reach a three-month high after data showed real wages dropped at the fastest pace since 2014 in January due to high inflation, putting less impetus on the central bank to tighten its ultra-loose policy.

The Nikkei average rose 0.25 percent to 28,309.16 ahead of the final policy meeting for Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Thursday and Friday. The broader Topix index closed 0.42 percent higher at 2,044.98.

Higher oil prices boosted energy stocks, with Inpex Corp and Japan Petroleum climbing 3 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.

Seoul markets swung between gains and losses before finishing marginally higher. Tech heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix dropped 1.3 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively while battery maker LG Energy Solutions jumped 3.5 percent and chemical firm LG Chem added 1.9 percent.

South Korea's GDP contracted 0.4 percent sequentially in the fourth quarter, revised central bank data showed earlier today, matching the advance estimate released in January.

Australian stocks rose while the Aussie dollar and government bond yields slid after Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe said there were indications that inflation had peaked in the country.

The Reserve Bank of Australia softened its hawkish forward guidance after lifting its cash rate 25 basis points to 3.60 percent, the 10th straight move since last May.

Investors shrugged off mixed trade balance and retail sales data. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.49 percent to finish at 7,364.70 while the broader All Ordinaries index ended 0.49 percent higher at 7,562.70. Mining stocks underperformed after Beijing set its lowest growth target ever.

InvoCare shares soared 35 percent after the funeral services provider received a non-binding takeover offer of $1.81 billion from asset manager TPG Global LLC.

Across the Tasman, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index settled marginally higher at 11,919.56.

Overnight, U.S. stocks gave up early gains to end narrowly mixed, tracking a rebound in U.S. Treasury yields.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite finished 0.1 percent lower while the Dow and the S&P 500 managed to finish in positive territory.

Indonesia Stock Market May Give Up Support At 6,700 Points

The Indonesia stock market headed south again on Monday, one session after ending the two-day losing streak in which it had given up more than 85 points or 1.2 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index now sits just beneath the 6,750-point plateau and it's looking at a soft start again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative on growing U.S. tariff concerns. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian markets are also expected to open under pressure. The JCI finished modestly lower on Monday following losses from the telecoms, financial shares and cement companies, while the resource stocks were mixed. For the day, the index lost 53.40 points or 0.78 percent to finish at 6,749.60 after trading between 6,732.41 and 6,818.79. Among the actives, Bank CIMB Niaga tumbled 1.74 percent, while Bank Mandiri dropped 0.99 percent, Bank Danamon Indonesia skidded 1.19 percent, Bank Negara Indonesia 2.33 percent, Bank Central Asia sank 0.83 percent, Bank Rakyat Indonesia collected 0.77 percent, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison surrendered 3.18 percent, Indocement stumbled 2.44 percent, Semen Indonesia fell 0.36 percent, Indofood Sukses Makmur rallied 2.60 percent, United Tractors jumped 1.73 percent, Astra International slumped 1.05 percent, Energi Mega Persada plunged 3.81 percent, Aneka Tambang improved 1.23 percent, Jasa Marga retreated 1.44 percent, Vale Indonesia plummeted 3.61 percent, Timah strengthened 1.46 percent, Bumi Resources declined 1.82 percent and Bank Maybank Indonesia and Astra Agro Lestari were unchanged.

RTTNews | 5h 6min ago

Japanese Market Significantly Lower

The Japanese stock market is significantly lower in post-holiday trading on Tuesday, reversing the gains in the previous session, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight, with the Nikkei 225 falling below the 38,400 level, with weakness across most sectors led by index heavyweights and technology stocks.

RTTNews | 5h 10min ago

Hong Kong Shares Tipped To Open In The Red

The Hong Kong stock market turned lower again on Monday, one session after ending the two-day slide in which it had dropped almost 470 points or 2.1 percent. The Hang Seng Index now sits just above the 23,340-point plateau and it may extend its losses on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative on growing U.S. tariff concerns. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian markets are also expected to open under pressure. The Hang Seng finished modestly lower on Monday as losses from the technology and financial shares were offset by support from the property sector. For the day, the index slumped 136.31 points or 0.58 percent to finish at 23,341.61 after trading between 23,221.57 and 23,688.45. Among the actives, Alibaba Group slumped 2.02 percent, while Alibaba Health Info plunged 5.13 percent, ANTA Sports accelerated 3.84 percent, China Life Insurance rallied 3.82 percent, China Mengniu Dairy soared 4.69 percent, China Resources Land increased 1.80 percent, CITIC perked 0.11 percent, CNOOC tumbled 2.27 percent, CSPC Pharmaceutical gained 1.00 percent, Galaxy Entertainment spiked 4.41 percent, Haier Smart Home strengthened 3.00 percent, Hang Lung Properties improved 2.20 percent, Henderson Land added 1.70 percent, Hong Kong & China Gas rose 0.99 percent, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China sank 0.36 percent, JD.com fell 0.31 percent, Lenovo tanked 4.56 percent, Li Auto stumbled 2.93 percent, Li Ning jumped 3.02 percent, Meituan advanced 2.21 percent, New World Development surged 6.77 percent, Nongfu Spring climbed 2.37 percent, Techtronic Industries retreated 1.55 percent, Xiaomi Corporation dipped 0.19 percent and WuXi Biologics plummeted 9.04 percent. The lead from Wall Street is soft as the major averages opened higher on Monday but faded quickly and finished mixed.

RTTNews | 5h 21min ago

Australian Market Significantly Lower

The Australian stock market is significantly lower on Tuesday, reversing the slight gains in the previous session, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is falling well below the 8,300 level, with weakness across most sectors led by mining and technology stocks.

RTTNews | 5h 31min ago

Lower Open Anticipated For China Stock Market

The China stock market has alternated between positive and negative finishes through the last five trading days since the end of the two-day winning streak in which it had advanced more than 20 points or 0.6 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index now rests just beneath the 3,375-point plateau and the losses may accelerate on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative on growing U.S. tariff concerns. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian markets are also expected to open under pressure. The SCI finished slightly lower on Monday as losses from the financials and oil companies were mitigated by support from the property sector. For the day, the index dipped 6.09 points or 0.18 percent to finish at 3,373.03 after trading between 3,355.87 and 3,384.81. The Shenzhen Composite Index perked 2.65 points or 0.13 percent to end at 2,091.46. Among the actives, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China shed 0.58 percent, while Bank of China dropped 0.92 percent, China Construction Bank lost 0.69 percent, China Merchants Bank fell 0.31 percent, Agricultural Bank of China sank 0.77 percent, China Life Insurance collected 0.63 percent, Ping An dipped 0.19 percent, Jiangxi Copper eased 0.10 percent, Aluminum Corp of China (Chalco) slid 0.13 percent, Yankuang Energy jumped 1.84 percent, PetroChina skidded 1.13 percent, China Petroleum and Chemical (Sinopec) slumped 0.51 percent, Huaneng Power slipped 0.15 percent, China Shenhua Energy climbed 1.07 percent, Gemdale rallied 2.19 percent, Poly Developments spiked 1.83 percent and China Vanke soared 2.62 percent.

RTTNews | 5h 36min ago

Soft Start Predicted For Taiwan Stock Market

The Taiwan stock market headed south again on Monday, one session after snapping the two-day losing streak in which it had dropped almost 180 points or 0.8 percent. The Taiwan Stock Exchange now rests just above the 23,565-point plateau and it's expected to open in the red again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative on growing U.S. tariff concerns. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian markets are also expected to open under pressure.

RTTNews | 6h 6min ago

Continued Consolidation Called For Singapore Shares

The Singapore stock market has moved lower in two of three trading days since the end of the three-day winning streak in which it had risen almost 60 points or 1.4 percent. The Straits Times Index now sits just beneath the 3,930-point plateau and it's predicted to open to the downside again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative on growing U.S. tariff concerns. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian markets are also expected to open under pressure. The STI finished slightly lower on Monday following losses from the financial shares and industrial issues, while the property stocks were mixed. For the day, the index eased 2.19 points or 0.06 percent to finish at 3,927.75 after trading between 3,923.28 and 3,951.64. Among the actives, CapitaLand Investment jumped 2.45 percent, City Developments rallied 2.59 percent, DBS Group dropped 0.58 percent, Hongkong Land dipped 0.22 percent, Keppel DC REIT added 0.47 percent, Keppel Ltd sank 0.29 percent, Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust climbed 1.72 percent, Mapletree Industrial Trust strengthened 2.00 percent, Mapletree Logistics Trust and Jardine Cycle both advanced 0.83 percent, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation fell 0.23 percent, SATS plunged 3.33 percent, Seatrium Limited tanked 2.10 percent, SembCorp Industries accelerated 2.61 percent, Singapore Technologies Engineering rose 0.20 percent, Thai Beverage spiked 3.00 percent, UOL Group surged 5.89 percent, Wilmar International soared 3.25 percent, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding plummeted 7.14 percent and CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Yangzijiang Financial, Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust, Genting Singapore, SingTel, Emperador and Comfort DelGro were unchanged.

RTTNews | 6h 36min ago

Malaysia Shares Tipped To Open To The Downside On Tuesday

The Malaysia stock market turned lower again on Monday, one session after snapping the two-day losing streak in which it had slipped more than 7 points or 0.4 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now sits just beneath the 1,585-point plateau and it's expected to open under pressure again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative on growing U.S. tariff concerns. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian markets are also expected to open under pressure. The KLCI finished modestly lower on Monday as losses from the financial shares and industrials were tempered by support from the plantation stocks. For the day, the index dipped 6.78 points or 0.43 percent to finish at 1,584.25 after trading between 1,577.95 and 1,586.39. Among the actives, 99 Speed Mart Retail gained 0.47 percent, while Axiata rallied 2.43 percent, Celcomdigi added 0.87 percent, CIMB Group rose 0.24 percent, Gamuda plunged 5.67 percent, IHH Healthcare eased 0.14 percent, IOI Corporation strengthened 1.59 percent, Kuala Lumpur Kepong jumped 2.00 percent, Maxis and Hong Leong Bank both advanced 1.17 percent, Maybank sank 0.19 percent, MISC accelerated 2.24 percent, MRDIY surged 3.38 percent, Nestle Malaysia and PPB Group both improved 1.10 percent, Petronas Chemicals plummeted 9.66 percent, Press Metal slumped 0.97 percent, Public Bank dropped 0.67 percent, QL Resources climbed 1.29 percent, Sime Darby soared 2.70 percent, SD Guthrie spiked 2.67 percent, Sunway stumbled 1.88 percent, Tenaga Nasional tanked 2.43 percent, YTL Corporation declined 1.53 percent, YTL Power retreated 1.55 percent and Telekom Malaysia and RHB Bank were unchanged.

RTTNews | 7h 6min ago

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