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Asian shares up, dollar firms as US rate cut wagers decline

Asian stocks rose on Tuesday while the dollar firmed, keeping the yen rooted near the 152perdollar level that has traders fretted about possible intervention, as expectations the Federal Reserve was close to cutting interest rates faded.

Information on Monday revealed U.S. production grew for the very first time in 1-1/2 years in March as production rebounded greatly and brand-new orders increased, highlighting the strength of the economy and casting doubts on the timing of Fed rate cuts.

The robust production information sent out yields on U.S. Treasuries greater, with two-year and 10-year yields reaching two-week peaks, boosting the dollar.

Futures indicated European stock markets were set for a. controlled open, with Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.10%,. German DAX futures up 0.02% and FTSE futures. 0.07% higher.

Japan's Nikkei was volatile. It recovered the. 40,000 points mark in the morning session however was last flat,. below the mark.

The yen was somewhat weaker at 151.76 per. dollar, not too far from the 34-year low of 151.975 it touched. last week, with traders acutely watching for tips of. intervention from Japanese authorities.

The ongoing run of robust U.S. information is making the lives. of Japanese currency authorities trying to support the yen. increasingly uncomfortable, said Tony Sycamore, market expert. at IG.

It also suggests that a smoothing occasion (physical. intervention) is unlikely to happen till after the 152.00 level. breaks.

Tokyo intervened in the currency market in 2022, first in. September and once again in October, as the yen slid towards 152 to. the dollar, a level last seen in 1990.

Japanese Financing Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday. that authorities were prepared to take appropriate action versus. excessive currency market volatility.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan. was 0.65% greater, primarily due to Hong Kong. stocks. The Hang Seng Index was up more than 2%, capturing. gains as the financial hub resumed after public vacations on. Friday and Monday.

Chinese stocks relieved on Tuesday after clocking their most significant. everyday gain in a month on Monday, as the current production. activity data signalled the nation's financial healing is. getting traction.

Overnight, the S&P 500 kicked off the first session. of the second quarter on a peaceful note, weighed by worries over. the timing of rate of interest cuts after stronger-than-expected. producing information pushed Treasury yields higher. The standard. U.S. index had clocked the greatest first quarter portion gain. in 5 years.

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes reduced to. 4.309% on Tuesday, having touched a two-week high of 4.337% in. the previous session.

The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which generally. relocations in action with rates of interest expectations, was down 2.5. basis points at 4.693% on Tuesday, not far from the near. two-week high of 4.726% touched in the previous session.

The raised yields broadly raised the dollar, with the euro. down 0.11% to $1.0731 and sterling last at. $ 1.2541, down 0.07% on the day.

Versus a basket of currencies, the dollar was 0.048%. greater at 105.05, simply shy of the 4-1/2 month high of 105.07 it. touched on Monday after the stronger-than-expected manufacturing. data.

Markets are now pricing in a 61% opportunity of the Fed cutting. rates in June, compared to 70% a week previously, according to. the CME FedWatch Tool. They are also pricing in 68 basis points. of cuts this year.

Markets might have over-reacted to the blowout ISM. producing numbers, thinking about the Fed chair Powell's. insistence on calling back policy restraint later this year,. said Nicholas Chia, Asia macro strategist at Standard Chartered.

If core PCE inflation alleviates to 2.5% -2.6% by the June. meeting, rate cuts might be in play which open the door to moderate. USD weakness. The risk is that the Fed fails to reach unanimity. on cuts, providing another upper hand to United States yields and the USD.

In products, U.S. crude increased 0.51% to $84.14 per. barrel and Brent was at $87.85, up 0.49% on the day,. assisted by indications of improved demand and rising Middle East. stress.

Area gold added 0.3% to $2,256.46 an ounce, after. hitting an all-time high of $2,265.49 on Monday.

(source: Reuters)