Dollar Rises Against Major Counterparts

The Singapore stock market on Monday ended the two-day winning streak in which it had advanced almost 50 points or 1.4 percent. The Straits Times Index now sits just shy of the 3,615-point plateau and it may take further damage on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative with profit taking likely for many of the regions. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian bourses figure to follow that lead. The STI finished modestly lower on Monday following losses from the industrials and financials, while the property sector was mixed. For the day, the index sank 25.61 points or 0.70 percent to finish at 3,614.58 after trading between 3,612.02 and 3,640.28. Among the actives, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust slumped 0.94 percent, while CapitaLand Investment shed 0.67 percent, City Developments added 0.76 percent, Comfort DelGro gained 0.69 percent, DBS Group tumbled 1.36 percent, DFI Retail Group urged 2.28 percent, Emperador climbed 1.18 percent, Genting Singapore rose 0.59 percent, Hongkong Land plunged 1.99 percent, Keppel DC REIT jumped 1.33 percent, Keppel Ltd fell 0.31 percent, Mapletree Industrial Trust dropped 0.81 percent, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding both sank 0.78 percent, Seatrium Limited lost 0.51 percent, SembCorp Industries slid 0.18 percent, Singapore Technologies Engineering plummeted 2.08 percent, SingTel stumbled 1.23 percent, Thai Beverage advanced 0.93 percent, UOL Group was up 0.18 percent, Wilmar International rallied 1.22 percent and Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust, Mapletree Logistics Trust, SATS and Yangzijiang Financial were unchanged.

The Malaysia stock market on Monday ended the two-day winning streak in which it had picked up almost 15 points or 0.9 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now sits just above the 1,645-point plateau and the losses may accelerate on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative with profit taking likely for many of the regions. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian bourses figure to follow that lead. The KLCI finished barely lower on Monday following mixed performances from the financial shares, property stocks, industrials and telecoms. For the day, the index eased 0.31 points or 0.02 percent to finish at 1,645.68 after trading between 1,642.52 and 1,648.05. Among the actives, Celcomdigi slumped 0.83 percent, while CIMB Group collected 0.61 percent, Genting added 0.49 percent, IHH Healthcare perked 0.14 percent, Kuala Lumpur Kepong retreated 0.94 percent, Maxis dropped 0.54 percent, MISC increased 0.52 percent, MRDIY tumbled 1.36 percent, Nestle Malaysia tanked 1.64 percent, Petronas Chemicals jumped 1.07 percent, Petronas Dagangan rallied 2.23 percent, Petronas Gas climbed 0.91 percent, PPB Group improved 0.70 percent, Press Metal advanced 0.83 percent, RHB Bank fell 0.16 percent, Sime Darby sank 0.41 percent, SD Guthrie gained 0.21 percent, Sunway lost 0.22 percent, Telekom Malaysia rose 0.15 percent, Tenaga Nasional shed 0.27 percent, YTL Corporation plummeted 3.03 percent, YTL Power plunged 2.56 percent and Axiata, Public Bank, QL Resources, Genting Malaysia, IOI Corporation and Maybank were unchanged.

The South Korea stock market on Monday snapped the three-day slide in which it had slumped almost 40 points or 1.6 percent. The KOSPI now sits just above the 2,600-point plateau although it may see renewed selling pressure on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is negative with profit taking likely for many of the regions. The European and U.S. markets were mostly lower and the Asian bourses figure to follow that lead. The KOSPI finished modestly higher on Monday following gains from the chemical companies and a mixed performance from the financials and technology stocks. For the day, the index added 11.1 points or 0.43 percent to finish at 2,604.92 after trading between 2,594.05 and 2,618.71. Volume was 235.86 million shares worth 7.6 trillion won. There were 434 gainers and 427 decliners. Among the actives, Shinhan Financial retreated 1.24 percent, while KB Financial dropped 0.95 percent, Hana Financial skidded 1.07 percent, Samsung Electronics fell 0.34 percent, Samsung SDI rallied 1.36 percent, LG Electronics dipped 0.10 percent, SK Hynix jumped 1.92 percent, LG Chem added 0.61 percent, Lotte Chemical spiked 2.79 percent, SK Innovation accelerated 2.05 percent, POSCO shed 0.43 percent, SK Telecom perked 0.18 percent, KEPCO advanced 0.95 percent, Hyundai Mobis was down 0.20 percent, Hyundai Motor climbed 1.07 percent, Kia Motors eased 0.11 percent and Naver was unchanged.

The Canadian market rose to a new record high Monday morning, but retreated soon and stayed weak right through the session as investors turned cautious ahead of earnings updates and some key economic events, including the Bank of Canada's monetary policy meeting due this week.

New Zealand will on Tuesday release September figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

The European Central Bank could have waited till December to lower interest rates, but the economic data since the September policy session signaled a shift in risks to inflation to the downside, and thus policymakers opted for a rate cut this month, Governing Council member Peter Kazimir said on Monday.

The Canadian market, which fell after a slightly positive start and a subsequent rise to a new record high Monday morning, continues to languish in negative territory in cautious trade and looks headed for a weak close.

The Switzerland market recovered and moved into positive territory after a weak start Monday morning, but retreated soon and spent the rest of the day's session in negative territory.