GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian equities reach nine-month highs, helped by US optimism over trade talks with China – Energy & Oil



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* Asian stock exchanges: tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

* MSCI ex-Japan jumps, Nikkei at the top 4-1 / 2 months

* Feeling strengthened by Chinese data, results of JPMorgan

* Positive news on Sino-US trade talks raises risk appetite

By Swati Pandey

SYDNEY, April 15 (Reuters) – Asian stocks hit a nine-month high on Monday after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he hoped the US-China trade talks would come close to a turn, while strong data on Chinese loans to the export and bank have boosted confidence. economy.

The resulting improved risk appetite resulted in a weakening of the dollar against other major currencies.

The largest MSCI index of Asia-Pacific equities outside Japan rose 0.6%, reaching its highest level since the end of July. Chinese equities led growth with the CSI300 leading index, up 2.2%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 1.2%, while South Korea's KOSPI gained 0.7%. The Japanese Nikkei also joined the party, registering a rise of 1.4%, its highest level since early December.

"The stock markets have the wind in their sails with growth in progress but stable inflation, reduced trade tensions and a solid / better than expected earnings season," said a JPMorgan badysts note.

The rise follows a strong Wall Street appearance on Friday as investors welcomed Chinese statistics showing that exports rebounded in March to a five-month high, while new bank borrowings jumped much more than expected.

Investors also welcomed the headlines of the Sino-US commercial conversation.

"We are expecting a relatively favorable deal for the US-China market," said Ethan Harris, a world economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, in a note. "In our view, market and political concerns will limit future struggles. Think of "skirmishes" rather than "major battles". "

On Saturday, Mnuchin said a trade agreement between the United States and China would go beyond previous efforts to open Chinese markets to US companies and hoped that both parties would be "close to the last one". cycle "of negotiations.

Reuters also announced on Monday that US negotiators had softened the demands of China, which wanted industry subsidies to cease subsidies to the industry, a condition of a trade deal after Beijing's strong resistance.

Investors are worried about the slowdown in global growth this year as trade disputes and tighter financial conditions have affected demand. Worryingly, the International Monetary Fund has reduced its outlook for the global economy for the third time in six months.

There is also concern that weak key economies, including China, will spread to other countries, particularly if the increased trade tensions between Beijing and Washington worsen.

As a result, the Group of 20 industrialized nations called for a trade truce, signaling world leaders that they are ready to take action to reduce the risks of a global economic slowdown.

RISK REWARD

Investors will then turn to China's gross domestic product data for Wednesday, which is due to be released on Wednesday. A Reuters poll predicted growth of 6.3% over the previous year, its slowest pace since the global financial crisis a decade ago.

All eyes are also turned to the earnings of large US companies after the quarterly results of JPMorgan, which largely beat badysts' estimates last week.

On Friday, the Dow Jones jumped 1%, the S & P500 0.7% and Nasdaq 0.5%. Analysts at JPMorgan were less confident that the euphoria of the stock could continue, valuations are already very high.

In currencies, the dollar index fell 0.1% to 96.863 against a basket of major currencies, as demand for safe haven badets declined. He had slipped to a nearly three-week low of 96.745 on Friday.

The Australian dollar, which is often used as an indirect indicator for Chinese gaming, has hovered around a seven-week high at $ 0.7173.

The euro is a little firmer at $ 1,309, as dealers prepare to meet Japanese demand as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial finalizes its acquisition of DZ Bank's air financing business for several billion dollars. euros.

The common currency was also supported by encouraging data from the euro area, where industrial production in February fell less than expected.

In the commodities sector, oil provided important milestones last week. Brent has crossed the threshold of 70 USD and the US benchmark has recorded six consecutive weeks of gains for the first time since early 2016.

Brent crude futures were 14 cents at $ 71.41, while crude futures, the US benchmark, declined 29 cents to $ 63.60.

Edited by Simon Cameron-Moore

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