HONG KONG: Asian markets largely rose on Wednesday, tracking a Wall Street rally after the Federal Reserve chief expressed confidence in the US economy despite fears of a global trade war.
Jerome Powell offered a positive outlook, citing a strong job market and inflation figures in line with Fed targets, sending US stocks higher.
“Powell’s testimony was music to investors’ ears as the Dow gained for the fourth consecutive day while the Nasdaq hit a new high-water mark”, said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA.
But Powell acknowledged uncertainty about the “outcome of current discussions over trade policy”, with US President Donald Trump hitting out at China and other economic partners as he adopts an aggressive “America First” policy.
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Fears about an all-out China-US trade war continue to rattle investors, with both sides lodging counter-complaints at the World Trade Organization after recently imposing tariffs and threatening more on billions of dollars’ worth of goods.
Washington’s traditional allies Japan and the EU have also not been spared from hefty US tariffs.
In a move described by officials as a “clear message” against protectionism, the EU and Japan signed a sweeping free trade deal on Tuesday, eliminating tariffs for a wide range of products from Japanese cars to French cheese.
Japanese exporters advanced in Wednesday trading with Toyota rising 1.35 percent to 7,473 yen, Panasonic gaining 0.62 percent to 1,452 yen and Olympus ending up 0.90 percent at 4,450 yen.
Tokyo rose 0.4 on the back of a cheaper yen as the dollar strengthened following Powell’s upbeat view of the US economy. Singapore gained 0.3 percent while Sydney climbed 0.7 percent.
But Shanghai lost 0.4 percent while Hong Kong ended the day down 0.2 percent.
Seoul fell 0.3 percent as South Korea’s finance minister warned that an all-out trade war between the US and China would have grim implications for the export-reliant country.
In morning trade London gained 0.4 percent while Paris rose 0.6 percent and Frankfurt climbed 0.8 percent.
– Oil falls –
Oil extended its losses after an industry group reported a surprise increase in US inventory.
Both main contracts fell following a report late Tuesday by the American Petroleum Institute that US crude stockpiles had increased by more than 600,000 barrels last week.
After withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal in May, the US said it would reinstate sanctions on the oil-producing nation, and warned other countries to stop purchasing Iranian exports including crude.
But US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin recently said that Washington would consider making an exception for certain countries which cannot immediately halt imports, adding further pressure on prices.
Traders will now be looking towards data from the US Energy Information Authority, due later Wednesday, for an indication of US demand and supply.
” Oil has had some big falls. But every time it drops recently there seems to be some sort of supply disruption news that puts the bid back in the market,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.
– Key figures at 0810 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.4 percent at 22,794.19 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.2 percent at 28,122.75 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 2,787.26 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,660.21
Dollar/yen: UP at 113.04 yen from 112.84 yen at 2100 GMT
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1618 from $1.1662
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3089 from $1.3113
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 54 cents at $67.54 per barrel
Oil – Brent Crude: DOWN 76 cents at $71.40 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 25,119.89 (close)
Source: Brecorder
