|

Asian Stock Market: Nikkei outshines, China dwindles amid a sluggish day

  • Asian shares trade mixed as China real-estate pokes bulls.
  • Climate change talks fail to entertain traders, stimulus hopes join Sino-American headlines to portray mild optimism.
  • Dow, S&P 500 refreshed record tops on earnings optimism, Tesla news.

Asia-Pacific equities struggle to track the S&P 500 Futures as European traders brace for Tuesday’s bell.

Although the US-China diplomatic talks and earnings optimism joins the optimism at Wall Street to keep the buyers hopeful, fears relating to the Beijing-based property shares and steady US Treasury yields challenge the bulls.

Amid these plays, MSCI’s index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rise 0.16% whereas Japan’s Nikkie jumps near 2.0% at the latest. Optimism in Tokyo could be linked to the easing of virus-led restrictions after 11 months of tighter activity controls, as well as hopes of further stimulus to overcome the pandemic-led economic hardships.

Elsewhere, Australia’s ASX 200 and New Zealand’s NZX 50 remain lackluster amid indecision in China, as well as fears that the climate controls may escalate the inflation pressure and push policymakers towards tapering and rate hikes. “China has said it will roll out a pilot real estate tax in some regions, adding to existing investor concerns about real estate in the mainland,” said Reuters in this regard.

It’s worth noting that receding covid fears in India and Indonesia helps their respective equity markets whereas the S&P 500 Futures refresh record tops following the Wall Street benchmarks. That being said, Dow and S&P 500 renewed all-time high on Monday as US policymakers, including President Joe Biden, backed expectations. Also fueling the American equities was Tesla’s stellar performance and a firmer start to the earnings season.

Against this backdrop, US 10-year Treasury yields pause after a two-day downtrend while the US Dollar Index (DXY) extends the previous day’s rebound from the monthly low.

Given the mixed performance and wait for the US Q3 GDP, Asian traders should track Wall Street and earnings calendar for fresh impulse.

Read: S&P 500 Future track Wall Street gains to refresh record top, ignore US Treasury yields

Author

Anil Panchal

Anil Panchal

FXStreet

Anil Panchal has nearly 15 years of experience in tracking financial markets. With a keen interest in macroeconomics, Anil aptly tracks global news/updates and stays well-informed about the global financial moves and their implications.

More from Anil Panchal
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD recovers above 1.1600 as focus shifts to US NFP

EUR/USD recovers ground above 1.1600 in Friday's European trading. The pair's uptick is sponsored by a profit-taking pullback in the US Dollar, as traders reposition ahead of the critical US Nonfarm Payrolls data. Meanwhile, the Middle East conflict and higher oil prices could keep the recovery in check. 

GBP/USD rebounds toward 1.3400 in countdown to US NFP

GBP/USD is rebounding toward 1.3400 in the European session on Friday. A modest improvement in risk sentiment and a broad-based US Dollar retreat help the pair recover its weekly losses. The focus now remains on the US NFP data and Middle East headlines for fresh trading incentives. 

Gold advances on increased safe-haven demand

Gold price recovers its recent losses from the previous session. The yellow metal advances as the broader precious metals market rebounds on safe-haven demand. However, the yellow metal is on track for its first weekly decline in five weeks as escalating Middle East tensions push oil prices higher, fueling inflation concerns and reducing bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts.

US Nonfarm Payrolls expected to show hiring moderated in February

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Nonfarm Payrolls data for February at 13:30 GMT. Volatility around the US Dollar will likely ramp up on the employment report, with investors looking for fresh insights on the US Federal Reserve’s path forward on interest rates, especially after the crisis in the Middle East revived concerns over rising inflation.

The market compass is pointing at a barrel of Oil

The Asian open is arriving with equities leaning the wrong way, and the reason is not complicated. The market’s compass needle has snapped firmly toward crude. In this tape, oil is not just another input price; it is the gravitational center around which every asset class is orbiting.

Top 3 Price Prediction: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple at risk as US-Iran war extends

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple trade cautiously at press time on Friday, close to key support levels after a roughly 2% pullback the previous day. Bitcoin holds above $71,000, Ethereum at $2,000, and XRP continues to consolidate in a sideways range.