Overnight, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.5% to a fresh record high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed in on the key 20,000-point mark on robust data and hopes that President-elect Donald Trump's corporate tax cuts and economic stimulus will boost the world's biggest economy. Consumer confidence in the U.S. rose to 113.7 in December, its highest reading since August 2001, according to data released on Tuesday, up from a revised 109.4 in November.
Crude oil prices remained firm on Wednesday on expectations of tighter supply, as the first output cut deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in 15 years takes effect on Sunday. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in February rose 31 cents, or 0.6%, to $54.21 a barrel. February Brent crude on London's ICE Futures exchange climbed 34 cents, or 0.6%, to $56.42 a barrel.
Most market participants are waiting to see if major oil producers inside and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will deliver on pledges to curtail production beginning next month. The deal, if carried out as planned, should reduce global supply by about 2%.
Among Asian bourses
Australia Market surges to 17 month peak
Australian share market finished at highest in nearly 17 months, after a four-day weekend, led by a rally among commodities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 1%, or 57.05 points, higher at 5,685, the highest close since Aug 4, 2015. Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Australia Stock Exchange by 666 to 319 and 272 ended unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of S&P/ASX 200 options, was up 15.42% to 12.169.
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Shares of metal mining players registered the strongest gains on tracking jump in commodity prices, particularly copper and iron ore. Fortescue Metals gained 3.5% toA$5.97, while Rio Tinto rose 2.4% to A$60.17 and BHP Billiton, which has significant oil exposure, rose 3.3% to A$25.44.
Oil and gas producers were stronger on the back of firmer crude oil prices. Woodside Petroleum eased marginally 0.03% to A$31.67, while Oil Search climbed 1.4% to A$7.06, Santos 2.3% to A$4.04, and origin Energy 0.9% to A$6.50.
Woolworths shares rose by 1.9% to A$24.31 after the supermarket giant's announced it will sell its 527 petrol stations to oil major BP - subject to ACCC approval - in a $1.8 billion deal. Caltex Australia, which failed in its bid for the Woolworths outlets, dropped 2% to A$29.99.
Japan Stocks end mixed
The Japan share market closed mixed after wavering between trading positive and negative, as mixed Japanese industrial production and retail sales data dented investors' sentiment. Total 21 out of 33 TSE industry category on the main section gained ground, with Nonferrous Metals, Iron & Steel, Machinery, Marine Transportation, and Metal Products issues being major gainers, while Rubber Products, Textiles & Apparels, Foods, and Pharmaceutical issues being notable losers. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended down 0.01%, or 1.34 points, to 19,401.72. A broader Topix index of all first-section issues gained 0.58 points, or 0.04%, to 1536.80.
Shares in Toshiba Corp. tumbled 20% after the company disclosed that overrun costs at its U.S. nuclear reactors under construction will likely lead to several billion dollars worth of write downs.
Shares of Hitachi Koki surged 16%, following a report that industrial power tool maker parent Hitachi gave U.S. private-equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts preferential negotiating rights to buy its Hitachi Koki unit.
The Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has released preliminary retail sales data on Wednesday, showing retail sales rose 1.7% on year in November, marking the first rise in nine months after drop of 0.2% in October and fall of 1.7% in September. The rebound prompted the government to revise up its assessment of retail sales which have been depressed amid uncertainty over economic growth and slow wage hikes. Retail sales rose 0.2% on month in November on a seasonally adjusted basis for the third straight gain after surging 2.5% in October.
The Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has released preliminary industrial production data on Wednesday, showing Industrial production up 1.5% from the previous month in November. It was the first rise in two months after being flat (revised from +0.1%) in October and +0.6% in September. METI forecasted a factory output growth of 2% on month in December 2017 (revised up from -0.6% projected last month) and growth of 2.2% in January 2017.
China Stocks end lower
Mainland China stock market closed lower in light trading, as tightening liquidity towards the year-end weighed on volumes. Meanwhile, the regulator's latest measures to curb big investment in the stock market by insurance companies also weighed on sentiments. The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.4% to 3,102.24 while the CSI 300 Index, which tracks large companies in Shanghai or Shenzhen, closed 0.44% lower at 3,301.89. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, slid 0.37% to 1,972.35. The ChiNext Index, which tracks China's NASDAQ-style board of growth enterprises, fell 0.58% to close at 1,957.16 points.
Investors concerns about market tighter liquidity reignited after the People's Bank of China, through a series of open market operations, withdrew CNY60 billion of capital on Wednesday, the third consecutive net drain this week, resulting in a total net drain of CNY280 billion week to date.
Investor confidence was shaken by Wednesday's media reports that the vice chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) had said insurers were not platforms to enrich speculators. Also on Wednesday, CIRC said it had suspended two insurers from online insurance business and ordered them not to apply for new product approvals for three months - the latest move to put insurers under closer supervision.
All sectors in China stepped back, with the biggest declines seen in infrastructure and property shares, both down around 1%. Strength in commodities helped offset some bearish sentiment towards raw materials and energy shares, with rebar and coke futures soaring around 5% and 7% respectively.
Hong Kong Stocks up 0.8%
The Hong Kong stock market closed up, after having enjoyed long Christmas holiday, helped by tracking overnight gains on Wall Street and a surge in China-related shares. Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index closed 0.83% higher at 21,754.74. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, known as the H-shares index, added 1.29% to 9,300.63. Turnover increased to HK$51.5 billion from HK$50.4 billion on Friday. Markets were closed on Monday and Tuesday for Christmas holidays.
Market heavyweights were mixed. China Mobile (00941) rose 0.68% to HK$81.05, while HSBC (00005) dipped 0.4% to HK$61.95.
Chinese banks gained broadly after a CBRC official proposed RRR cut at an "appropriate time". CCB (00939) surged 4.8% to HK$5.89, making itself the top blue-chip gainer. ICBC (01398) put on 1.11% to HK$4.54. Bank of China (03988) gained 1.19% to HK$3.39 while ABC (01288) rose 0.96% to HK$3.16.
Tencent (00700) gained 2.17% to HK$183.6 after the internet group, Chinese digital mapping company NavInfo and Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC agreed to buy a 10% stake in mapping company HERE.
Sensex, Nifty close flat
Indian market washed out earlier gains to finish almost flat today due to fag-end selling pressure from operators ahead of the expiry of futures and options December contract on Thursday. The Sensex fell 2.76 points or 0.01% to settle at 26,210.68, its lowest level since 26 December 2016. The Nifty 50 index rose 2 points or 0.02% to settle at 8,034.85, its highest closing level since 21 December 2016.
The market sentiment was boosted initially after data showed that domestic institutional investors made substantial purchases of Indian stocks on Tuesday. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1502.41 crore on Tuesday as per provisional data while foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 712.17 crore Tuesday.
Pharma shares extended yesterdays gains as the rupee continued to weaken against the dollar. A weak rupee boosts the value of overseas earnings of pharma firms in local terms. Pharma companies derive substantial revenue from exports. Aurobindo Pharma (up 1.33%), Cipla (up 0.11%), Dr Reddys Laboratories (up 0.9%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 0.82%), Lupin (up 0.63%), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (up 0.16%), Alkem Laboratories (up 0.76%), and Wockhardt (up 0.77%) gained. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (down 0.43%) fell.
Cadila Healthcare rose 0.2% after the company issued clarification with regard to media reports of receiving warning letter from the United States Food and Drug Administration. Cadila Healthcare in its clarification issued to the stock exchanges during market hours today, 28 December 2016, said that Zydus Discovery DMCC, a 100% subsidiary of Cadila Healthcare has received an untitled letter and not a warning letter from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), as being projected in media reports.
Bharti Infratel rose 2.31% to Rs 339.30 on reports that a foreign brokerage has upgraded the stock to neutral from underperform. The foreign brokerage reportedly said though Bharti Infratel continues to face headwinds in the near term including headwinds from increased competition and consolidation by mobile operators, the risk-reward is more balanced after recent underperformance.
South Korea stocks fall 0.87%
South Korea share market declined, with the Kospi down 0.87% or 17.68 points at 2,024.49, as the east Asian country remains mired in a complicated political crisis, involving President Park Geun-hye who has been impeached. On Wednesday morning, the special prosecution investigation team arrested the National Pension Service chairman, Moon Hyung-pyo, but did not provide further details. In November, two presidential aides were arrested for being involved in a corruption scandal.
Singapore shares close 0.4% up
Singapore share market ended stronger, with the Straits Times Index advancing 0.4%, or 12.54 points, to 2,898.3. The blue-chip index was boosted after a recovery in oil prices and post-Christmas holiday cheer on Wall Street.
The most actively traded counter was Noble Group, which rose S$0.007 to S$0.169 with 121.2 million shares changing hands. Other actives included Ezra Holdings and Equation Summit.
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