Asia Pacific share market declined for second consecutive session on Tuesday, 16 December 2014, as sentiment remained bearish amidst concern about ripple effect of falling oil prices across financial markets and economies. Meanwhile, selloff pressure intensified after fresh data suggesting factory activity in China continues to slow in December. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 0.8% to 134.60.
Crude-oil futures tumbled on Tuesday, with Brent oil falling below $60 as market sentiment remained bearish amid speculation U.S. producers may further increase output as they battle OPEC for market share and as a Chinese manufacturing gauge missed estimates.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S. crude futures for delivery in January traded at $54.59 a barrel, down $1.3, or 2.4%, in the Globex electronic session. January Brent crude on London's ICE Futures exchange slid $1.54, or 2.5%, to $59.52 a barrel.
Oil prices have now fallen around 47%-48% since their peak in June this year, their largest drop since the 2008-2009 financial crises. The slump in oil prices is having a ripple effect across financial markets and economies, and market participants are still unsure of where prices will bottom.
The headline number of China's HSBC's preliminary or flash version of the December manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 49.5, a seven-month low, from a final reading of 50.0 in November. The reading was below the 50 mark that separates overall growth from contraction.
The Russian central bank raised its key interest rate to 17% from 10.5% to halt a collapse in its currency, the biggest increase since the nation's 1998 default, at an unscheduled meeting after the rouble fell to an all-time low. The rouble jumped after the interest rate hike.
Overnight US stocks ended lower in a volatile session on Monday as oil prices extended their sell-off, adding to worries about weak global demand. The Nasdaq Composite was down 1.04%, S&P 500 fell 0.63%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.58%.
More From This Section
Among Asian bourses
Australia market falls to lowest level in more than 10 months
Australian share market closed down for sixth consecutive session, Monday, 15 December 2014, as risk aversion selloff triggered across the board, with mining and energy stocks being major losers amid falling commodity prices and fresh data suggesting factory activity in China continues to slow. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index declined 33.80 points, or 0.65%, to close at 5152.30, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 33.60 points, or 0.65%, to 5131. Market turnover was relatively healthy, with 1.37 billion shares changed hands worth of A$4.23 billion. Total of 476 stocks were up, while 797 were down.
Shares of energy and mining companies declined the most in Sydney market today, due to dive in crude oil prices to fresh five year lows and news of weaker manufacturing activity in China. Among energy stocks, Woodside Petroleum dropped 2.6% to A$34.46, as it announced A$4 billion in LNG and oil asset purchases. Santos shed 2.55% to A$7.27 and Oil Search lost 2.75% to A$7.06. Among mining stocks, BHP Billiton declined 3.2% to A$27.42, a fresh five-year low. Rio Tinto dropped 1.6% to A$52.65 and Fortescue Metals was 3.6% weaker at A$2.39.
On the macro front, minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia's December policy meeting reiterated the central bank's long-held stance it intends to keep rates on hold, while hoping a depreciating currency will help boost demand.
Nikkei falls to lowest level in more than six weeks
Headline equities of the Japanese market continued to slide, dragging the benchmark indices to lowest settlement in more than six week. The selloff pressure mounted due to combination of yen appreciation against the major currencies, faltering crude prices and rekindled fears about Russia's economic outlook. The benchmark Nikkei Stock Average slipped 2.0% to end at 16,755.32, its lowest closing mark since October 31.
Exporters and other currency-sensitive stocks declined the most in Tokyo market. The yen added 0.5% to 117.22 per dollar after advancing 0.8% yesterday. A stronger yen is bad for exporters, as it offers less latitude to cut prices on goods they sell overseas, and earns less in yen terms when they repatriate profits. Toyota Motor Corp, which gets about 31% of its sales from North America, lost 1.3% to 7,214 yen. Canon Inc., the world's biggest camera maker, slid 2.2% to 3,786.5 yen. Panasonic Corp., which makes Viera televisions, slumped 1.9% to 1,419.5 yen.
Shares of Japanese companies with large exposure to Chinese markets were also sold after HSBC's PMI data, with baby products maker Unicharm Corp losing 2.6% to 2856.50 yen and construction machinery maker Komatsu down 1.7% to 2639.50 yen.
Banks were also hit hard, partially on the risks associated with exposure to Russia's economy and financial instruments tied to oil trading; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group lost 2.6% to 4121.50 yen, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ended down 2.5% to 649.10 yen. Shares of Japan Tobacco lost 2.8% to 3354.50 yen, as it counts Russia is one of its fastest-growing markets.
Aeon tumbled 6.4% to 1113 yen, after Credit Suisse cut its rating on the supermarket operator to underperform from neutral, and reduced its share price target to 1,000 yen.
Shanghai Composite rises to 44-month high
Mainland China equities climbed-up sharply, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite higher by 68.10 points, or 2.31%, to finish at 3021.52, its highest close since Apr. 21, 2011 when it closed at 3026.67. Investors risk appetite buying encouraged on growing expectations of more monetary easing after gloomy manufacturing data.
Total of 7 out of 10 SSE industry groups advanced, with gauges of financial companies climbed the most, up 6.5%, followed by energy (up 2.8%), utilities (up 1.1%), industrials (up 1%), and materials (up 0.7%).
Shares of brokerages climbed on prospects the government won't rein in their margin-trading businesses. Citic Securities closed 10% daily upside limit at 29.77 yuan while Haitong Securities ended 10% daily upside limit at 22.44 yuan.
HK stocks fall after gloomy China data
Hong Kong share market finished weaker, as risk sentiments remained bearish on tracking negative lead from Wall Street overnight and after data showed a further slowdown in China's manufacturing sector. The Hang Seng Index ended lower 357.35 points, or 1.55%, to 22670.50, off an intra-day high of 22944.28 and low of 22641.06. Turnover increased to HK$91.24 billion from HK$68.61 billion on Monday.
As for the Shanghai-HK stock connect flow, the southbound quota balance was RMB10.107bn, while the northbound quota balance was RMB11.682bn, accounting for 96.3% and 89.86% of the daily allowed quotas respectively.
Shares of energy companies declined the most in HK market today, after crude oil prices dived to fresh five year lows. CNOOC (00883) slipped 3.4% to HK$9.8. PetroChina (00857) fell 2.3% to HK$8.06. Sinopec (00386) dipped 1.7% to HK$5.93.
On the macro front, volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods edged up 0.9% in October from a year earlier, while that of domestic exports rose 1.2%. Taken together, the volume of total exports and imports of goods rose 0.9% and 4.7%, according to the Census and Statistics Department. Comparing the first ten months of 2014 with the same period in 2013, the volume of Hong Kong's re-exports of goods grew 2.7%, while that of domestic exports rose 6.6%. Taken together, the volume of total exports and imports of goods rose 2.8% and 3.2%.
Sensex tanks over 500 points; Nifty below 8100
Indian stock market closed steep lower, as further slide in global crude oil prices and weakness in Asian stocks triggered by data showing a further slowdown in China's manufacturing sector sent investors on risk aversion mode. As per provisional figures, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 538.12 points or 1.97% at 26781.44. The CNX Nifty was down 152 points or 1.85% at 8067.60.
The metal index was the biggest losers, down 4.17%, due to weak China manufacturing data. Sesa Sterlite dropped 7.77% to Rs.194.05. Bhushan Steel fell 4.65% to Rs.89.20, NMDC 2.22% to Rs.134.45, Steel Authority of India (SAIL) 1.02% to Rs.77.25, Tata Steel 2.82% to Rs.389.40 and Jindal Steel and Power 4.14% to Rs.132. Hindalco Industries fell 5.67% to Rs.144.70 after a news report said that a special court rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI's) closure report on Hindalco.
SpiceJet gained 2.58% to Rs.13.9. The government will decide on the future of SpiceJet after the budget airline, which cancelled flights and delayed paying staff this month, sought state support amid concerns it may wind down operations.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region: Taiwan's Taiex index declined 0.4% to 8950.91. South Korea KOSPI was down 0.85% to 1904.13. New Zealand's NZX50 fell 0.1% at 5496. Singapore's Straits Times index fell 2.4% at 321.09. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index dropped 1.6% to 5026.03. Malaysia's KLCI dropped 1.4% to 1673.94.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News