Asian markets mixed as trade row rumbles, political crisis brews

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HONG KONG, Sept 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Asian markets were mixed Tuesday
following the latest tit-for-tat tariffs in the China-US trade row, while
investors are now looking ahead to the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting.

While the levies had been widely expected, there are concerns about how
long the spat will go on for after China cancelled planned talks between the
two sides and said negotiations “cannot be carried out under the threat of
tariffs”.

Fresh political uncertainty in Washington is also catching the attention,
helping drag on Wall Street, with speculation Donald Trump could fire Deputy
Attorney General Rod Rosenstein over reports he suggested removing the
president from office.

The developments are being closely followed as Rosenstein plays a key role
in overseeing the Russia probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which Trump
has labelled a politically motivated “witch hunt”.

His removal could deal a major blow to the investigation and possibly a
constitutional crisis in Washington, leading to further political
instability.

In Asia Shanghai returned from a public holiday to fall 0.3 percent in the
morning, Sydney shed 0.3 percent and Wellington lost 0.2 percent. Manila and
Jakarta were also lower.

But Tokyo, also back after a public holiday, ended the morning 0.2 percent
higher, Singapore added 0.4 percent and Taipei gained 0.2 percent.

Hong Kong and Seoul are closed for public holidays.

– Focus on Fed –

Energy firms enjoyed big gains following a surge in oil prices on Monday,
which came after the world’s top producers maintained output, despite
pressure from Trump.

Brent soared more than three percent to a four-year high above $81 while
WTI piled on 1.8 percent to hold around $72 after OPEC and non-OPEC nations
said they were satisfied with the current market outlook.

 

“Oil continues to hold on to astonishing gains as the latest move was
helped along by headlines from OPEC’s weekend meeting as the organisation
agreed to no immediate supply boosts and last week’s reports that Saudi
Arabia was now comfortable with Brent at $80,” said Stephen Innes, head of
Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA.

Focus is now on the Fed’s policy meeting, which ties up on Wednesday with
most bets on a third interest rate hike of the year. However, its statement
will be pored over for its plans for future increases and whether its outlook
has been altered by the ongoing trade war with China.

“Inflation is above target, so they can keep going on this sort of slow
normalisation,” Iain Stealey, portfolio manager at JPMorgan Global Strategic
Bond Fund, told Bloomberg TV.

“I don’t see them stopping unless we see a pickup in trade rhetoric which
actually does impact the overall economy.”

Expectations that borrowing costs will continue to rise through next year
is providing strong support to the dollar, which is up against the yen, euro
and pound as well as most other high-yielding currencies.

– Key figures around 0230 GMT –

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 percent at 23,909.91 (break)

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent at 2,789.04

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: Closed for a holiday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1740 from $1.1748 at 2100 GMT

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3110 from $1.3115

Dollar/yen: UP at 112.87 yen from 112.78 yen

Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP three cents at $72.11 per barrel

Oil – Brent Crude: DOWN 15 cents at $81.24 per barrel

New York – Dow Jones: DOWN 0.7 percent at 26,562.05 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 7,458.41 (close).