Headline equities of the Asia pacific market closed mixed on Wednesday, 01 April 2015, as investors cashed in recent profit on tracking negative lead from Wall Street overnight. Risk sentiments were also hammered by private survey data indicating activity in China's manufacturing sector contracted in March after two months of recovery and a Japanese central bank survey showed businesses are wary about the economic outlook.
Wall Street stocks declined overnight, as investors eyed mixed economic data and the end of the first quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 200.19 points (1.11 per cent) to 17,776.12 on Tuesday. The broad-based SP 500 fell 18.35 (0.88 per cent) to 2,067.89, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 46.56 (0.94 per cent) to 4,900.88.
The final HSBC/Market China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 49.6, slightly higher than a preliminary "flash" reading of 49.2 but still below the 50-mark which separates contraction from expansion.
The official manufacturing PMI reading was better than the March HSBC final PMI, which also released on Wednesday. The government's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index was 50.1 last month, from 49.9 in February, a tad above the 50-mark that that separates growth from contraction , according to the statistics bureau and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing in Beijing.
The Bank of Japan Wednesday released its quarterly Tankan business survey for March on Wednesday, showing the diffusion index measuring sentiment among big manufacturers was unchanged at plus 12 from the December quarter. Looking ahead, the diffusion index for big manufacturers is expected to worsen to 10 in June. The diffusion index for non-manufacturers including retailers and construction firms improved slightly to 19 from 17, apparently due to benefits from greater numbers of foreign tourists visiting Japan. But, index for non-manufacturers expected to worsen by 2 points to 17 in June quarter. The diffusion indexes represent the percentage of companies reporting favorable business conditions minus the percentage reporting unfavorable environments. The latest tankan showed companies plan to reduce capital spending by nearly 5% in this fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2016. The companies expect to cut spending on land purchases by nearly 37%.
Among Asian bourses
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Nikkei drops after weak business sentiment data
Japanese share market closed down on the first day of the Japanese new financial year, as profit booking continued on second straight day after release of worse-than-expected Bank of Japan's tankan survey of business sentiment. A weaker dollar also fuelled selloff in the market. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 172.15 points, or 0.9%, to finish at 19034.84, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares fell 0.92%, or 14.12 points, to 1528.99.
Shares of drugmakers continued its slide on the Tokyo bourses on profit booking, with Eisai Co dropping 2.1% and Astellas Pharma dropping 2.5%. The pair added 83% and 17%, respectively, from January to March.
Paper manufacturers were higher, as the tankan's large company index for the paper & pulp sector showed a large rise. Oji Paper added 2.4%, while Hokuetsu Kishu Paper gained 4.8%.
Sensor and integrated systems maker Keyence fell 2% after a Societe Generale downgrade to sell from buy with a target price target of Y55,398, citing overvaluation.
General contractor Maeda Corp lost 4.2% after a Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities downgrade its rating for the company to equal-weight from overweight, citing valuation concerns.
Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co jumped 2.5% to 1788.50 yen after report that the company would become more activist in its investments, moving "to oust ineffective outside directors and demanding higher payouts."
Australia market falls 0.5%
The Australian share market closed down, as weak commodity prices, overnight selling in the Wall Street, and mixed manufacturing data from China triggered risk aversion selloff. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index declined 30.70 points, or 0.52%, to 5860.80, while the broader All Ordinaries Index fell 29 points, or 0.49%, to 5832.90. Market turnover was healthy, with 1.73 billion shares changing hands worth of A$5.68 billion.
Shares of mining companies declined the most in Sydney market, amid continuing concerns about the impact of China's slowdown on mineral prices, with Rio Tinto down 1.4% to A$56.41 and BHP Billiton down 2.2% to A$30.34. Iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals Group dropped 3.3% to A$1.895 amid a steep downturn in iron-ore prices. Gold miner Northern Star (NST) ended 5.7% lower at A$2.17, after gold prices fell overnight.
Shares of energy companies also ended lower amid ongoing concern about an oversupply on global oil markets that continues to drag down crude prices, with Woodside Petroleum falling 1.9% to A$33.88, Santos erasing 2.9% to A$6.93 and Origin Energy easing 1.2% to A$11.17. Oil Search declined 2.6% to A$7.01.
Ansell shares improved 4.9% to A$28.90 after the world's number two condom maker said yesterday it had reached an agreement to acquire Microgard, a UK-based protective clothing manufacturer, for about 59 million pounds, or about A$115 million. In a release to the ASX, Ansell said it expects the acquisition, including costs, to be marginally dilutive to EPS in FY15, and accretive in FY16.
Emeco Holdings shares dropped 8.3% to A$0.11 after the mining equipment maker announced the completion of the acquisition of road haulage truck and trailer rental business, Rentco, has been rescheduled to April 30.
Engineering and construction services provider UGL's shares fell 5.5% to A$1.375 on reports the Victorian state government would not proceed with the proposed delivery of the Cranbourne to Pakenham rail corridor project, of which UGL is a member.
China market climbs on stimulus bets
Mainland China share market closed sharply higher on heavy volume, amid reinforcing bets that Beijing will have to roll out more policy support to avert an economic slowdown after surveys of China's fresh PMI data revealing persisting weakness in the country's manufacturing sector. The Shanghai Composite Index advanced 62.40 points, or 1.66% to 3810.29 at the close. The CSI300 index, the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen, grew 72.70 points, or 1.79%, to 4123.90.
All ten SSE industry groups advanced, with information technology issue leading the rally, up 3.3%, followed by telecommunication services (up 2.9%), healthcare (up 2.3%), consumer discretionary (up 2%), utilities (1.9%), industrials (up 1.7%), financial (up 1.7%), materials (up 1.4%), energy (up 1.3%), and consumer staples (up 1.3%).
Shares of telecom, technology and consumer-discretionary companies were the best performers in the Beijing. BYD Co surged 10%. Han's Laser Technology Industry Group Co. and China United Network Communications both soared 10%.
Shares of water treatment companies advanced on reports China will boost investment on water-conservation projects as the country's leaders seek to ensure safe supplies and reduce pollution. Chongqing Three Gorges Water Conservancy & Electric Power Co. and Anhui Water Resources Development Co. both added 2.1%.
Shares of financial companies also traded higher, after the State Council said an insurance system for bank deposits will start on May 1, with deposits and interest up to 500,000 yuan ($81,000) will be fully covered. China Construction Bank rose 0.8%. Ping An Bank Co. climbed 1.3%. China Life Insurance jumped 2%. Citic Securities Co. and Haitong Securities Co climbed 3.4% and 5.9% respectively amid speculation increased stock turnover and margin trading will boost earnings.
Hong Kong market ends 0.7% up
Hong Kong stock market finished the session with gain, amid better-than-expected China's official manufacturing PMI for March, with start-up shares leading the way after the CIRC allowed insurers to invest in the city's Growth Enterprise Market (GEM). The Hang Seng Index ended up 181 points or 0.7% to 25,082, off an intra-day high of 25,074 and day low of 24,926. Turnover reduced to HK$110.3 billion from HK$149 billion on Tuesday.
Hong Kong listed internet stocks rose sharply, with software developer Kingdee International Software Group up 8.6%, web-game developer NetDragon Websoft Inc up 7.4%, Boyaa Interactive International up 9% and online-game provider Forgame Holdings up 13.6%.
Mainland Chinese real-estate shares continued their strength following property-market easing moves by the central government, with index component China Overseas Land & Investment up 3.2%, China Resources Land up 1.6% and Sino-Ocean Land Holdings up 2.1%.
Brokerage shares extended gains, with Citic Securities Co up 4.4%, China Everbright up 2.7%, China Galaxy Securities Co up 4%, and Haitong Securities Co up 5.1%.
AID Partners (08088) soared 25% to HK$0.47 on talks that its CEO intends to invest in ATV. ATV Manager Deloitte China's Managing Partner Derek Lai told a media briefing that the free-to-air broadcaster has signed an agreement with an investor. HKTV (01137) ended up 9% to HK$3.35 after soaring to HK$3.85 early the morning on market hopes that it is potential buyer of ATV.
Sensex clocks broad based gains
Indian benchmark indices surged on the last trading session of the truncated trading week and the first trading session of the new financial year, with Banking, telecom and pharma stocks leading the way. Indian companies and domestic investors follow the period from 1 April to 31 March as their financial year. A rally in European stocks and overnight drop in Brent crude oil prices underpinned sentiment on the domestic bourses. Fall in crude oil prices augur well for India as the country imports 80% of its crude oil requirements. The S&P BSE Sensex advanced 302.65 points or 1.08% to settle at 28,260.14. The CNX Nifty rose 95.25 points or 1.12% to settle at 8,586.25.
Today's rally on the domestic bourses was broad based, with more than two gainers against every loser on BSE. Among the gainers from the constituents of the BSE Small-Cap index, gains ranged from 3% to 20% for quite a few stocks. Among the gainers from the constituents of the BSE Mid-Cap index, gains ranged from about 2% to about 11.5% for quite a few stocks.
Metal and mining stocks edged higher. IT stocks were mixed. HCL Technologies dropped after the company warned of adverse cross currency impact on the company's revenue and EBIT in Q3 March 2015 in pre-quarter earnings update issued after trading hours yesterday, 31 March 2015. Index heavyweight and cigarette maker ITC edged higher. Shares of natural gas production companies were mixed after the government cut natural gas price.
The Eight Core Industries carrying nearly 38% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded 1.4% growth in February 2015 over February 2014, data released by the government after trading hours yesterday, 31 March 2015 showed.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India has relaxed position limits for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), domestic participants and importers of goods and services in the exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) market.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 356.07 crore yesterday, 31 March 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 283.71 crore yesterday, 31 March 2015, as per provisional data.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region: South Korea KOSPI declined 0.62% to 2028.45. Taiwan's Taiex fell 0.82% to 9507.66. New Zealand NZX50 was up 0.03% to 5835.58. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index sank 0.94% to 5466.87. Singapore's Straits Times index closed flat at 3447.02. Malaysia's KLCI declined 0.24% to 1826.31.
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