### Summary
Asian stocks were mixed as traders awaited the Federal Reserve's summer conference to determine if more interest rate hikes are necessary to deal with inflation.
### Facts
- 📉 Shanghai and Hong Kong stocks retreated, while Tokyo and Seoul stocks advanced.
- 📉 The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 1.1%.
- 📈 The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo advanced 0.6%.
- 📈 The Kospi in Seoul gained 0.6%.
- 📊 The S&P 500 index ended the week lower by 0.1%.
- 💵 Some investors are shifting money to bonds as higher interest rates make their payout bigger and less risky.
- 💹 Tech and other high-growth stocks are some of the biggest losers due to higher rates.
- 📉 Ross Stores jumped 5% after reporting stronger-than-expected results, while Estee Lauder fell 3.3% despite reporting stronger profit and revenue than expected.
- ⛽ Benchmark U.S. crude gained 73 cents to $81.39 per barrel, while Brent crude reached $85.55 per barrel.
- 💲 The dollar slightly edged up to 145.35 yen, while the euro rose to $1.0882.
(Source: AP News)
Asia-Pacific markets fell on Friday as Japan's core inflation rate dropped to 3.1% and Chinese real estate giant Evergrande filed for bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court.
Asian stock markets rebounded from an eight-day losing streak, supported by a recovery in Chinese shares, while benchmark Treasury yields reached a 16-year high on concerns of sustained high interest rates.
Japan's exports fell in July for the first time in nearly 2-1/2 years, driven by weak demand for light oil and chip-making equipment and raising concerns about a global recession as the demand in key markets such as China weakens.
Consumer inflation in Tokyo grew at a slower pace than expected in August, but the core figure, which excludes fresh food and energy costs, remained at its highest level in over 40 years, indicating that inflationary conditions in Japan remain high and putting pressure on the Bank of Japan to eventually tighten policy.
Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of the Jackson Hole meeting as investors anticipated signals on U.S. monetary policy, with Japan's Nikkei 225 leading losses, while Meituan shares dipped after a weaker Q3 outlook.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda stated that underlying inflation in Japan remains below the bank's 2% target, leading to the decision to maintain the current approach to monetary policy, despite core consumer inflation staying above the target for the 16th consecutive month.
Japan's factory output fell more than expected in July, indicating a challenging start to the second half of the year for manufacturers amid concerns about China's growth and the global economy. Output declined 2.0% in July from the previous month, driven by decreased domestic and overseas orders, particularly in the electronic parts and production machinery sectors. However, car production rose 0.6% due to improved supply chain conditions.
Asian stock markets mostly lower as Japanese factory activity and Chinese service industry growth weaken, while Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 rises on hopes that economic data will convince the Federal Reserve that inflation is under control.
Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of Australia's central bank's rate decision, as well as inflation and business activity readings from across the region, while Singapore appoints Chia Der Jiun as the next managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore starting on January 1.
Most Asian stocks fell on Tuesday due to concerns over slowing growth in China, a property sector meltdown, and hot inflation readings, which raised concerns over higher interest rates. Chinese stocks were the worst performers, with investors growing impatient with Beijing's slow approach to stimulus measures.
Investors are concerned about the possibility of intervention in Tokyo after the yen reached its weakest level against the dollar in 10 months, while Asian markets fell due to worries of another US Federal Reserve interest rate hike and a jump in oil prices.
Asia stocks fall as weak economic data in China and Europe raise concerns over global growth, while the dollar strengthens as investors assess the outlook for U.S. interest rates.
Tokyo stocks rise as a cheaper yen supports the market, despite falls on Wall Street and concerns about another US Federal Reserve interest rate hike.
Japan's economy grew less than expected in Q2 and wages fell in July, raising doubts about the country's recovery and the effectiveness of the central bank's projections for domestic demand.
Japanese real wages continued to decline for the 16th consecutive month in July, posing a challenge for the Bank of Japan's efforts to stimulate inflation and economic growth.
The yen strengthened and government bonds slumped as traders reacted to potentially hawkish comments from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda on the negative interest rate policy, causing Japanese bank shares to jump and the benchmark bond yield to rise.
The Wall Street Journal reports a notable shift in the stance of Federal Reserve officials regarding interest rates, with some officials now seeing risks as more balanced due to easing inflation and a less overheated labor market, which could impact the timing of future rate hikes. In other news, consumer credit growth slows in July, China and Japan reduce holdings of U.S. Treasury securities to record lows, and Russia's annual inflation rate reached 5.2% in August 2023.
The Bank of Japan's potential shift away from negative interest rate policy has ignited the Japanese Government Bond and currency markets, with the yen seeing its biggest rise in two months and the 10-year JGB yield reaching its highest point in almost a decade.
Summary: Asian shares mostly decline as investors await U.S. consumer price data and the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.
Global markets ended higher as energy stocks climbed supported by Saudi Arabia and Russia's decision to extend supply cuts, while Wall Street's key indexes saw weekly declines due to investor concerns over interest rates and anticipation of upcoming U.S. inflation data. In Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 ended down, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up, and Chinese shares rose following improved data on consumer price inflation. The Eurozone's economic growth outlook has been downgraded by the European Commission, and crude oil prices fell.
Asian stock markets fell as Wall Street experienced a decline, with investors preparing for key US inflation data, and a spike in oil prices added to concerns about persistent price pressures and the interest rate outlook.
Speculation is growing that the Bank of Japan may be moving away from ultra-loose policy and negative interest rates, with its policy meeting being the highlight of the week in Asian markets.
Asia-Pacific markets fell as traders awaited the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy meeting minutes, while European markets were weighed down by a spike in corporate lending rates; meanwhile, Goldman Sachs predicts that the Fed is done hiking this year and the recent increase in oil prices could benefit London's prime office real estate market.
Asian stock markets mostly declined, with Japan's Nikkei 225 leading losses, as investors were concerned about upcoming central bank decisions and the possibility of the Bank of Japan ending its negative interest-rate policy.
Asia-Pacific markets are expected to continue declining as investors wait for China's loan prime rates and the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision, while oil prices rise due to supply concerns and all 11 sectors in the S&P 500 trade down.
The GBP/JPY is falling back to the midrange after failing to maintain a bullish push, while investors wait for Japan trade balance figures and the Bank of England's rate call.
Asia-Pacific markets fell after the U.S. Federal Reserve projected a rate hike, while New Zealand's GDP exceeded expectations, Hybe shares slid despite BTS contract renewals, and analysts identified Chinese internet stocks with potential. Also, the Fed left rates unchanged but expects one more hike this year, Cathie Wood praised an AI company, analysts favored small-cap stocks, and interest rate markets signaled a delay in future rate cuts.
Equity markets in Asia are expected to open lower following a sharp decline in U.S. stocks, with futures in Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia all pointing to declines; meanwhile, India's benchmark stock indices declined for the third consecutive day after the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept the interest rate unchanged but signaled the possibility of another rate hike in 2023.
The Japanese yen weakened and stocks and bonds remained under pressure as investors prepared for U.S. interest rates to remain high, despite the Bank of Japan sticking to ultra-easy monetary policy and making no changes to its outlook.
Japan's core inflation remained steady in August, staying above the central bank's 2% target for the 17th consecutive month, signaling broadening price pressure and potentially increasing the case for an exit from ultra-easy monetary policy.
The Bank of Japan has decided to maintain ultra-low interest rates and continue supporting the economy until inflation reaches its target, indicating a slow withdrawal from its stimulus program and causing the yen to fall.
Japanese consumer inflation grew above expectations in August, potentially signaling a move away from negative interest rates as the Bank of Japan meets to discuss its monetary policy.
Most Asian stocks retreated as markets absorbed the outlook for higher interest rates and concerns over a property market crisis in China, while Japanese shares rose on the back of the Bank of Japan's dovish stance.
Asian shares fall due to concerns over interest rates, inflation data, and China's economy, while bond investors face the impact of the US Federal Reserve's more hawkish rate projections.
Asia-Pacific markets fell ahead of China's industrial data and Australia's inflation figures, while the US experienced a sell-off after disappointing economic data, causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to fall below its 200-day moving average for the first time since May. Additionally, oil prices continue to rise, putting crude on track for its best quarter in over a year, and Tesla shares dropped after reports of an EU investigation into whether the company and other European carmakers are receiving unfair subsidies for exporting from China.
The Bank of Japan policymakers are divided on how soon the central bank could end negative interest rates, with some members believing it may take a significant amount of time before revising the policy, while others believe the 2% inflation target has come within reach and could be assessed in early 2024. The central bank's commitment to ultra-loose monetary settings remains due to uncertainty regarding the achievement of its inflation target.
Asia-Pacific markets climb as traders assess key economic data out of Japan, including the September inflation rate for Tokyo, while oil prices surge to their highest level in over a year due to a decrease in crude stocks and GDP increases by 2.1% in Q3 as the government announces revisions.
Japan's core inflation slowed for the third consecutive month in September, mainly due to falling fuel costs, providing some relief for the fragile economic recovery; however, factory output remained flat in August, indicating the negative impact of weak global demand and China's economy.
Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell due to an increase in Treasury yields and oil prices, leading to a decline in investor sentiment on Wall Street, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index sliding 1.41% after shares of Evergrande were suspended.
Asia-Pacific markets rise as U.S. Treasury yields ease from 16-year highs following weak jobs data, with Japan, South Korea, and Australia all trading higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index looks set for a rebound after losses on Wednesday; Carter Worth, CEO of Worth Charting, predicts lower interest rates and stocks by the end of 2023, contrary to consensus forecasts, while Vanguard's Aliaga-Diaz believes there is a limit to how high yields will go due to rate uncertainty; oil prices fall sharply, hitting their lowest level since September 5.
Asian shares mostly fell amid concerns about the U.S. banking system and Chinese economic growth, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.2% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 0.4%, while China's export data showed the sharpest decline in three years. Bank stocks in the U.S. also fell after Moody's cut credit ratings for 10 smaller and midsized banks, citing concerns about their financial strength in light of higher interest rates and the work-from-home trend. The Federal Reserve's efforts to combat inflation by raising interest rates have led to a slowdown in the economy and hit banks hard.
Asian markets fall as inflation data raises expectations of Federal Reserve rate hikes; Australian, South Korean, and Japanese shares slip, and the Golden Dragon index of Chinese companies listed in the U.S. records its biggest drop in a month.
China's weak economic recovery and the risks associated with its property crisis are likely to impact Asia's economic prospects, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), leading to a cloudier outlook for the region and potential spillover effects on commodity-exporting countries with close trade links to China. The IMF revised its growth estimate for Asia down to 4.2% for 2024, and emphasized the need for central banks in the region to exercise caution in cutting interest rates due to sticky core inflation and other global factors such as the Middle East conflict. Additionally, the IMF warned that Japan's normalization of monetary policy could have significant global implications.
The U.S. stock markets decreased due to rising Treasury yields and investor evaluations of corporate earnings, while Asian markets, including Japan's Nikkei 225 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200, also experienced declines; the European STOXX 600 index and Germany's DAX also decreased, while crude oil, gold, and silver prices fell.
Asian stock markets fell on Friday, following the lead of U.S. markets, as bond yields increased and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's remarks weighed on equities; South Korea's KOSPI Composite Index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index were among the top losers, while Japanese inflation data showed price rises easing but still above the Bank of Japan's target rate of 2%.
