Asian benchmarks mixed as markets eye COVID, inflation risks
Asian shares were mixed in Monday trading as momentum faded from last weeks rally on Wall Street amid varied sentiments about coronavirus restrictions easing in China and global interest rate increases.
Benchmarks fell in Japan and South Korea, while rising in China. Analysts say some investors are being cheered by signs inflation is abating in the US earlier than initially thought, while they warn factors remain that could refuel inflation, including geopolitical risks.
But it is far too hasty to declare a decisive conclusion to inflation risks, said Venkateswaran Lavanya at Mizuho Bank.
Japans benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.8 per cent in morning trading to 28,047.58.
Australias S and P/ASX 200 was little changed, inching up less than 0.1 per cent to 7,163.10. South Koreas Kospi lost 0.2 per cent to 2,479.52.
Hong Kongs Hang Seng jumped 2.1 per cent to 17,688.84, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.4 per cent to 3,099.19.
We also have the Democrats holding the Senate while the Republicans look likely to control the House. Policy paralysis at a time of economic crisis is not a good look for what may lay ahead over the next two years. The current stock rally may have only days to run, said Clifford Bennett, chief economist at ACY Securities, referring to the US midterm election results.
Wall Street closed last week with a rally, amid hopes inflation pressures had eased. That would make the Federal Reserve less likely to keep raising interest rates. But some analysts said the Wall Street rally was overdone.
The S and P 500 rose 36.56 points, or 5.5 per cent, for its best day in more than two years, to 3,992.93. Its 5.9 per cent gain for the week was its third in the last four and its biggest since June.
The Dow rose 32.49, or 0.1 per cent, to 33,747.86, and the Nasdaq climbed 209.18, or 1.9 per cent, to 11.323.33.
Both also notched hefty gains for the week.
Markets are getting a boost from Chinas relaxing some of its strict anti-COVID measures, which have been hurting the worlds second-largest economy. Easing of restrictions translates to potentially more growth in China, a definite plus for the Asian region.
A report last week showed inflation in the United States slowed by more than expected last month. The Fed has already lifted its key overnight interest rate to a range of 3.75 per cent to 4 per cent, up from basically zero in March. The likely scenario is still for further hikes into next year.
In energy trading, benchmark US crude gained 22 cents to USD 89.18 a barrel. US crude gaining 2.9 per cent to USD 88.96 per barrel Friday. Brent crude, the international standard, added 29 cents to USD 96.28 a barrel.
In currency trading, the US dollar rose to 139.20 Japanese yen from 138.76 yen. The euro cost USD 1.0391, down from USD 1.0356.
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