HONG KONG: Tokyo stocks led another rally across Asian markets on Tuesday as investors took up the baton from a strong Wall Street performance, with focus on Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell’s congressional debut later in the day.
Equity traders are shifting back into buying mode after the first week of February saw a plunge that wiped trillions off valuations worldwide, though analysts still warn that with prices still high volatility could still return.
Still, with concerns about rising US inflation and rising interest rates abating, stocks are back on an upward trajectory, with the S&P 500 on Monday climbing above the level it touched before the sell-off.
The gains of more than one percent on all three main New York indexes again filtered through to Asia, with Tokyo ending the morning 1.4 percent higher, while Hong Kong and Sydney were each up 0.6 percent.
Singapore rose 0.3 percent, Seoul was 0.5 percent higher, Taipei jumped 0.4 percent.
“Investors appear less concerned by US rate hikes than at any point this month, which is what is providing the positive tone in global equity markets,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA.
However, Shanghai slipped 0.6 percent, though Innes added that Xi Jinping’s move to lift term limits on his presidency would be “a boon to regional economic sentiment as it guarantees continued market reforms and staying the course on the (Belt and Road) trade-and-infrastructure programme”.
This week sees a number of key events, including the release of US economic growth and inflation data.
– Tied hands –
But firstly new Fed chief Powell will speak before top congressional committees on Tuesday and Thursday, with his remarks being closely analysed for clues about monetary policy.
Nerves are still raw after the recent sell-off and his views on monetary policy will be closely watched, though many are tipping him to stick to predecessor Janet Yellen’s course.
“In some ways his hands are a bit tied,” BNP Paribas Asset Management senior economist Steven Friedman told Bloomberg TV.
“The path of least resistance for him is to really stick to the script, which is to reiterate that there is a lot of underlying momentum in the economy, that gives them more confidence in their projections, but ultimately the path of interest rate increases is going to be gradual.”
With eyes on Powell, the dollar is struggling against its main peers as well as other higher-risk currencies, despite the euro coming under pressure after the head of the European Central Bank suggested he would be patient in removing crisis era stimulus.
Mario Draghi said there remained some uncertainty in the eurozone’s recovery, which could hold back inflation. The comments tempered long-running speculation the ECB will tighten policy as the region’s economy improves.
“For now, Draghi is a steady hand on the tiller,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.
– Key figures around 0230 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 22,460.85 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.6 percent at 31,676.85
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 3,308.78
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.2335 from $1.2317 at 2000 GMT
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3970 from $1.3968
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 106.81 yen from 106.83 yen
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP 12 cents at $64.03 per barrel
Oil – Brent North Sea: UP nine cents at $67.59
New York – DOW: UP 1.6 percent at 25,709.27
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 7,289.58 (close)
Source: Brecorder.com
