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Asian stocks slide as rate concerns damage danger cravings

Asian stocks fell on Friday as strong U.S. financial data reinforced the possibility of interest rates staying higher for longer and the Federal Reserve taking its time in cutting rates, keeping financiers far from risky assets.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 1% and was on course for a 1.5% weekly decline, snapping its four-week winning streak. Japan's Nikkei fell 1%.

The risk-averse mood is set to continue in Europe, with the Eurostoxx 50 futures down 0.44% and FTSE futures 0.75% lower.

Information on Thursday showed U.S. unemployed claims dropped while S&P Global's Flash PMI survey showed organization activity expanded faster than financial experts forecast in May.

The robust economic data along with hawkish minutes from the Fed's last conference previously in the week has actually led traders to dial back their bets on rate cuts this year.

Today's data declares the Fed just does not have the capacity to provide policy lodging, said Prashant Newnaha, a senior Asia-Pacific rates strategist at TD Securities.

Markets are now pricing in just 35 basis points of easing in 2024, versus expectations of 150 bps of cuts at the start of the year, with a rate cut totally priced-in only in December.

Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said the U.S. central bank may need to wait longer to cut interest rates because even with April's slightly cooler inflation reading there is continued upward pressure on costs.

Investors and traders who have become hopeful of a rate cut have also become hypersensitive to each key financial data point, which has actually caused rate cut expectations to become extremely unpredictable, said Vasu Menon, handling director of financial investment strategy at OCBC.

The waiting game is most likely to continue for a bit longer as markets flip back and forth in between US growth and inflation.

China stocks fell, with the blue chip stocks 0.43%. lower as China's military began its 2nd day of war games. around Taiwan on Friday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was. 1.27% lower.

The altering expectations around U.S. rates has lifted. yields, with benchmark U.S. 10-year yield touching a. more than one-week peak of 4.498% on Thursday. It was last at. 4.466% in Asian hours on Friday.

The dollar has actually also benefited, with the dollar index,. which measures the U.S. currency versus a basket of six major. peers, up almost 0.6% on the week to 105.09, on course for its. biggest one-week increase because mid-April.

The dollar's climb has kept the pressure on the yen. The. Japanese currency was last at 157.04 per dollar, not. far from the more than 3 week low of 157.19 discussed. Thursday.

Japan's core inflation slowed for a 2nd straight month in. April due to milder food inflation while staying comfortably. above the central bank's 2% target, federal government data showed on. Friday.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday the. economy was on track for a moderate recovery, suggesting a depression. in first-quarter gross domestic product alone would not keep the. central bank from raising rates of interest in coming months.

Sterling was silenced on Friday at $1.2690, having. touched a 2 month high of $1.2761 on Wednesday as traders. consider rates outlook in the wake of information this week showing. inflation did not slow as much as expected in April.

The start of the election campaigns of British Prime. Minister Rishi Sunak and his Labour Celebration rival Keir Starmer,. drew eyes on Thursday though experts said the survey was unlikely. to have a major effect on markets.

Orla Garvey, senior portfolio supervisor for fixed income at. Federated Hermes, anticipates the Bank of England to start its. relieving cycle later this year.

The increased uncertainty around the election and budget. trajectory under a possible Labour government most likely puts. steepening pressure on the curve.

In commodities, oil prices were constant, with Brent crude. at $81.38 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude. ( WTI) futures were at $76.86.

Gold prices rose 0.24% to $2334.16 per ounce however are. set for a 3.3% decrease for the week, their most significant weekly drop. because late September.

(source: Reuters)