Asian markets swing as dealers battle uncertainty

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HONG KONG, Jan 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Asian markets fluctuated Wednesday
following a negative lead from Wall Street as investors grow nervous about
the chances of success in China-US trade talks ahead of a crunch meeting next
week.

The mood remains cautious, with the rally that has characterised the start
of the year stuttering owing to a slowing Chinese economy, a softer global
outlook and other issues including Brexit and the US government shutdown,
which shows no sign of ending soon.

US investors turned sellers on Tuesday after the Financial Times and CNBC
said Washington had rejected Beijing’s offer of preparatory discussions ahead
of the next round of high-level negotiations.

And while the White House denied the reports, observers said they
highlighted the fragility of the talks. They also came a day after Bloomberg
News said the two sides were struggling to reach agreement on the crucial
matter of intellectual property, a key source of US anger.

Hopes that China and the US were on the right track have helped rally
global markets in January, having suffered a torrid 2018.

But data showing China’s economy grew at its weakest pace in three decades
added to fears it is heading for a hard landing, while Xi Jinping also showed
signs of worry about the effects of a slowdown in a speech to top provincial
leaders this week.

“Investors obviously are still a little bit edgy and therefore we would
expect periods of volatility to continue,” Mark Hackett, chief of investment
research at Nationwide Funds Group, said.

– ‘Falling demand’ –

“As the headlines continue to get more nerve-wracking with regards to a
global slowdown and trade wars and government shutdowns, it’s easy to spook
investors, but we think those are temporary versus permanent.”

In early trade, Hong Kong was up 0.2 percent having swung back and forth
in initial exchanges, while Shanghai dipped 0.1 percent and Tokyo ended the
morning marginally higher.

Sydney and Singapore were down 0.1 percent while Seoul added 0.5 percent,
with Wellington, Taipei and Manila all lower.

Oil prices were flat after taking a hit Tuesday on lingering worries about
the effect of a slowdown in the global economy, and particularly China, on
demand.

The commodity has jumped around a fifth from lows touched in December —
having dived about 40 percent from early October — but investors continue to
fret over the demand outlook as producers keep the taps open.

“The story behind the broad-based selling (in commodities) is an easy one:
falling demand,” said OANDA market analyst Edward Moya point to China’s
slowing growth, the IMF’s decision to lower its global forecasts and downbeat
outlooks from big firms this earnings season.

“US shale production continues to surge and pushing refiners to the
highest pace in 15 years. Record stocks of fuel keeps the gasoline glut in
focus,” he added.

– Key figures around 0230 GMT –

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: FLAT at 20,631.54 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.2 percent at 27,051.12

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,577.96

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1366 from $1.1361 at 2140 GMT

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2954 from $1.2957

Dollar/yen: UP at 109.58 yen from 109.37

Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP five cents at $53.06

Oil – Brent Crude: UP eight cents at $61.58 per barrel

New York – DOW: DOWN 1.2 percent at 24,404.48 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 1.0 percent at 6,901.39