Appetite for riskier assets received blood primarily from firming expectations that the US Fed would delay QE tapering following dovish statements by both Fed Chairman Bernanke and Fed Chair-nominee Yellen. Manufacturing sector-related data released on Friday surprised on the downside, thereby further adding to bets that the Fed would keep policy accommodative.
Meanwhile, buying sentiments accelerated further after China's weekend announcement on broad economic restructuring of the economy especially the opening the financial sector and relaxing restrictions on investment. The Party has pledged to widen reforms, to increase the role of markets in the economy, to encourage private investment in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), to ease the one-child policy and to expand farmers' rights.
The China government released on November 15 the details of a reform package addressing 16 areas with 60 major initiatives across almost all the areas. China late evening Friday unveiled its most sweeping reform agenda in more than 30 years. The agenda aims to transition China to a more free-market consumer economy with fewer social controls. On the economic front, the plans include reducing the power of giant state-owned companies, removing a swathe of price controls, phasing out caps on interest rates and moving towards yuan convertibility. More broadly, the plans also outline loosening the one-child policy, abolishing the controversial re-education labour camps and introducing steps toward an independent judiciary.
It appears that Chinese government would like to define again the roles of government and market by sharply reducing government's influence in resource allocation and allowing market to play a decisive role in this regard. The government would mainly be responsible for maintaining macro stability, improving public services, ensuring fair competition and strengthening regulations. The government would also establish an "ex-ante negative list". Private and foreign investments are allowed without prior approval to enter industries restricted by the negative list. The government also plans to allow market forces to determine prices of water, oil, natural gas, power, transportation and telecom. Although the reform plan appears comprehensive and aggressive, its success will be determined by policy design and execution.
Among Asian bourses, shares in the Australian financial market fell down, weighing the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index down 18.30 points to 5377.90, shrugging off a strong lead from offshore bourses. All sectors eased, with the precious metal stocks amongst the biggest drags, while selling pressure also witnessed in consumer discretionary, realty, energy, financials and utilities stocks.
Shares of Australian precious metal producers declined, with Newcrest Mining shedding 3.8% to A$9.24, Perseus Mining 7.7% to A$0.36 and Kingsgate Consolidated 3.2% to A$1.345.
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Australian top four banks finished weaker, with Commonwealth Bank falling 0.6% to A$77.34, Westpac Banking Corp 0.4% at A$32.87 and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group 0.6% to A$32.10. National Australia Bank rose 0.2% to A$34.36.
Emeco Holdings rose 2% to A$0.255 after heavy mining equipment provider issuing its third profit warning in seven months but telling investors it expects conditions to improve in the second half of the financial year.
Rural services group Elders dumped 4.2% to A$0.115 after posting a full-year statutory loss of more than half a billion dollars, compared to a A$60.6 million loss a year earlier.
Explosives and chemicals manufacturer Orica continued to rise on last week's better than expected result, adding another 3% to A$24.10.
In Japan, Japanese financial market finished mixed after zigzagging between gains and losses, as investors took money off the table following sharp 7.7% rally last week. The benchmark Nikei225 index sank 1.62 points to 18164.30, while broader Topix index rose 2.63 points to 1247.67.
Shares of export related companies declined the most in Tokyo on profit taking, with Sharp Corp erasing 1.05% to 283 yuan, Fujitsu 1.3% to 469 yen, Kyocera Corp 1.7% to 5150 yen. Kyocera lost 1.7% to 5150 yen and Tokyo Electron 1.3% to 5510 yen. Auto majors Toyota Motor Corp dropped 0.3% to 6350 yen. Camera maker Nikon Corp fell 0.8% to 1764 yen after Credit Suisse cut the shares to neutral. Sony Corp rose 0.9% to 1862 yen following reports of strong sales for its just-launched PlayStation 4 videogame console.
Banks and financials were higher in Tokyo, with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group adding 1.8% to 5170 yen, while Nomura Holdings gained 0.9% to 797 yen and retail lender Aiful rose 5.8% to 474 yen. Among insurers, Tokio Marine Holdings added 2.4% to 3460 yen.
In China, Chinese stock market skyrocketed on the back of aggressive risk-on sentiment after China's weekend announcement on broad economic restructuring of the economy especially the opening the financial sector and relaxing restrictions on investment. The Shanghai Composite surged 2.87% to 2197.22 while the CSI 300 Index spurted 3.3% to 2428.90.
Shares of financial companies were sharp higher in Shanghai, with Securities companies and insurers were among leading gainers as investors bet on great potential in the growth of these sectors with a deepening of financial reform. Both Citic Securities and China Life locked 10% upper circuit at 12.71 yuan and 15.46 yuan, respectively. Haitong Securities gained 8.8% to 11.70 yuan.
Shares of military equipment makers in China were continued rising for second straight day on expectations of higher government spending over the next decade. Defence information security product manufacturer Beijing Aerospace Changfeng rose by its 10% daily upside limit to 15.13 yuan. Electronics producer China Aviation Optical-Electrical Technology Co. added 6.4% to 16.97 yuan. Hafei Aviation Industry climbed 5.9% to 27.49 yuan.
In Hong Kong, HK shares market finished higher, with benchmark Hang Seng Index rising 2.73% to 23660.06, boosted by strong rally in Chinese stocks.
Among the HK 50 blue chips, all blue chips on hopes of comprehensive reforms post the party meeting, with the Chinese financial plays leading the march. Insurers were up on Chinese government decision mentioned developing social security system. Ping An (02318) and China Life (02628) shot up 9.4% and 8.7% to HK$69.5 and HK$23.1. CPIC (02601) soared 13.2% to HK$31.75. Chinese lenders were also higher. CM Bank (03968) and Minsheng Bank (01988) jumped 9.4% and 7.4% to HK$16.76 and hK$9.38. Baby product industries were also higher on relaxation of one-child policy. Dairy product manufacturers also rose across the board. Yashili (01230) and Biostime (01112) ascended 9.7% and 6.5% to HK$5.2 and HK$68.4. Goodbaby (01086) put on 4.3% to HK$4.14.
In India, Indian benchmark indices surged to fresh intraday high in late trade as firmness in Asian stocks boosted sentiment. The S&P BSE Sensex was provisionally up 453.95 points or 2.23%, up 282.78 points from the day's low and off 9.64 points from the day's low.
Among Indian blue chips, index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC surged. Another index heavyweight Reliance Industries also advanced. Shares of IT major Infosys hit 52-week high. Tata Steel extended Thursday's gains triggered by the company reporting turnaround in Q2 September 2013. Shares of Financial Technologies (India) and Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) surged on high volumes.
Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index rose 1.34%. South Korea's KOSPI rose 0.26%. Taiwan's Taiex index jumped 0.18%. Malaysia's KLSE Composite added 0.14%. Singapore's Straits Times index rose 0.05%.
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