Regional shares followed equity markets in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom higher overnight as investors turned their attention away from the ongoing geo-political risks in Iraq and toward the US Fed and the Bank of England, which both kept interest rates on hold.
After a closely watched meeting Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve said it would slash a further $10 billion off its monthly bond-buying and maintain its highly accommodative monetary policy of record low interest rates. The central bank's chief Janet Yellen downplayed recent data showing accelerating, but still tame, inflation, and said unemployment was still too high.
The Fed's accommodative policy stance is seen as one of the positives, as rising consumption in the U.S. is expected to help underpin some of Asia's big export-driven economies.
Bank of England policymaker voted unanimously to keep interest rates at 0.5%. The base rate has been held at a record low of 0.5% since March 2009. Minutes of the Bank's most recent monetary policy meeting showed that stronger growth in coming months could force nine-member committee to act soon to raise interest rates to curb inflation
Hawkish comments by top BOE officials are encouraging investors to bring forward the beginning of a normalization of monetary policy and a tightening cycle, no matter how gradual.
Investor sentiment was bolstered further by speech delivered in London on Wednesday by Chinese premier Li, in which he confidently stated that the globe's number-two economy would avoid a hard landing, while limiting the scale of any stimulus to support economic growth.
Among Asian bourses
Nikkei surges to near five-month high
Japan share market advanced for third consecutive day on tracking gains on the offshore market overnight after the United States Federal Reserve provided reassurance it plans to keep its monetary policy supportive for many months to come. The benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 1.62% to 15361.16, its highest close since 29 January 2014, while the Topix index of all first-section shares climbed 1.59% to close at 1269.04.
Exporters were sharp higher. Toyota, which gets about 75% of its sales abroad, gained 2.2% to 6,013 yen. Honda Motor Co., which counts North America as its biggest market for revenue, climbed 1.6% to 3,609 yen. Technology firm Kyocera gained 2.1% to 5009 yen. SoftBank Corp rose 2.4% to 7790 yen and Fast Retailing rose 2.6% to 34480 yen.
Bank shares were strong, led by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's 2.6% rise to 4412 yen and Resona Holdings' 2.9% gain to 575 yen. Analysts said the sector's laggard status was seen as making it look undervalued.
Steel makers were led by JFE Holdings, which added 2% to 2058 yen, and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal gained 3.1% to 329 yen.
Sharp Corp rose 3.5% to 325 yen after Wednesday's announcement that it has developed an LCD panel that can be cut into any shape, potentially paving the way for a wide array of applications.
Nippon Sheet Glass surged 17% to 145 yen after a Nomura Securities upgrade to buy from neutral, citing brightening prospects in its core European market, cost-cutting, and improving cash flow.
Yaskawa slumped 2.3% to 1,236 yen after Credit Suisse cut its rating on the stock to neutral from outperform, citing earnings may decline on lower demand for smartphone servomotors, a lull in automaker capital investment and less benefit from the weaker yen.
Australia market bounces 1.6%
Australian share market rebounded sharply from two months low today, fueled by gain in iron ore prices and hints from the Federal Reserve that interest rates would stay at record lows well into next year. All sectors ended high due to bargain hunting, with mining, industrials, energy and financial blue chips leading the rally. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 advanced 1.6% to 5468.20 and the broader All Ordinaries grew 1.5% to 5446.4.
Shares of material and resources companies jumped as base metal prices were generally higher on the London Metal Exchange on Wednesday with aluminium leading the gains, up by 1.4%. Iron ore rose by US$1.00 a tonne or 1.1% on Wednesday to US$90.30 a tonne.
Resources giant BHP Billiton spiked 3.3% to A$36.43. Fortescue Metals Group, the third largest iron ore miner, rose 5% to A$4.22. Rio Tinto jumped 2.3% to A$59.24 after the miner said on Tuesday that it would increase discounts on its low-grade iron ore from 6% to 13% from July 1.
Rail operator Asciano, which services the mining industry, jumped 6.1% to A$5.55 after telling shareholders it plans to axe 500 jobs by the end of the month in a move to control costs, enabling it to reiterate its full -year profit guidance.
Energy stocks were higher despite mixed oil prices overnight. Australia's second largest oil and gas producer, Woodside (WPL) was up 1.5% to A$41.50 and leading the sector higher, after sliding 4.6% the previous day after striking a deal to buy back a 9.5% stake from Royal Dutch Shell. Origin Energy rose 3% to A$14.73, Santos was up 1.3% to A$14.49 and Oil Search grew 1.3% to A$9.82.
Ten Network was down 6.9% to A$0.27, the worst performer in the ASX 200, after the television company warned it expects revenue in fiscal 2014 to be up to 4.5% lower than last financial year due to declining advertising revenue.
China stocks down on IPO woes
Mainland China share market extended falling streak for third consecutive day, amid concerns new share sales will divert funds from existing shares. The benchmark Shanghai Composite closed 1.55% down from prior day to 2023.73. Trading turnover increased to 74.63 billion yuan from yesterday's 70.47 billion yuan.
The data from securities regulator indicated that four companies aim to raise up to 1.7 billion yuan (US$273.80 million) via initial public offerings (IPOs) in Shanghai and Shenzhen, the first firms to push forward with listings after a four-month lull. IPO sales cause a liquidity drain from the market and short-term volatility with investors selling existing shares, particularly small-caps, to subscribe to new shares.
The securities regulator last week approved the listing plans of seven firms, effectively resuming the IPO market which halted in February after a two-month flurry of activity ended a 14-month drought that started in November 2012.
Shanghai Lianming Machinery Co. aims to sell up to 20 million shares at 9.93 yuan a piece, the company said in a statement, meaning it will raise 198.6 million yuan if fully subscribed. The other three will list on the smaller Shenzhen Stock Exchange and aim to raise a total of 1.5 billion yuan, the companies said in statements. Wuxi Xuelang Environmental Technology Co. aims to sell up to 20 million shares at 14.73 yuan each for a total of 294.6 million yuan if fully subscribed, with Pacific Securities Co. acting as underwriter. Shandong Longda Meat Foodstuff Co. aims to sell up to 54.59 million shares at 9.79 yuan each for a total of 534.4 million yuan if all sold, while Feitian Technologies Co. aims to raise up to 662.9 million yuan with shares priced at 33.13 yuan.
About 100 Chinese companies will sell shares in mainland IPOs by yearend, China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Xiao Gang said on May 19.
Shares of property developers declined after the National Bureau of Statistics showed new-home prices fell in in 35 of the 70 cities tracked by the government for the first time in two years in May as a slowing economy and excess supply deterred buyers. China Vanke, the biggest developer, fell 1.4% today, while Poly Real Estate dropped 0.8%.
Shares of technology companies declined on profit booking. Yonyou Software slid by the daily limit of 10%, while Neusoft plunged 7.1%. Leshi Internet, a provider of online videos, slid 1.8%, adding to yesterday's 4.7% slump.
Hang Seng ends down 13 points
Hong Kong share market finished inch lower in volatile trade, extending falling streak for fourth consecutive session, after the Fed announced further tapering and concerns about property slowdown in China. The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed 13.99 points down from prior day closure at 23167.73. Trading turnover improved to HK$49.49 billion from yesterday's HK$46.35 billion.
China's new-home prices fell in half the cities tracked by the government for the first time in two years as a slowing economy and excess supply deterred buyers. Prices fell in 35 of the 70 cities last month from April, according to a statement by the National Bureau of Statistics yesterday, the most since May 2012. In Shanghai, prices decreased 0.3% from April, the first decline in two years, while they fell 0.2% in Shenzhen.
Property remains the biggest macro risk in the near term in China. The real estate industry accounted for about a fifth of China's overall gross domestic product and further softening will bring additional downside risks to the economic outlook. China's home prices will fall 5% this year as developers cut prices to meet sales targets amid a cooling market, Standard & Poor's said last week.
Mainland developer shares declined as China's national home prices fell month-on-month in May. CR Land (01109) and COLI (00688) slipped 3% and HK$2.6% to HK$14.24 and HK$19.52, making themselves the top blue-chip losers. But local developers were higher, with Cheung Kong (00001) jumping 2.6% to HK$138. Kerry (00683) put on 1.5% to HK$26.7. New World (00017) gained 1.5% to HK$9.1. SHKP (00016) rose 1% to HK$108.
Banks and financials were mixed on liquidity concerns after the PBoC conducted repurchase operations of RMB20bn today, reducing significantly the net injection this week. BOC (03988), ICBC (01398) and CCB (00939) became the first banks to run the business. CCB added 1.2% to HK$5.83. But Minsheng Bank (01988) slid 1% to HK$6.99. CM Bank (03968) edged down 0.3% to HK$15.12.
Sensex falls for second day
Indian stock market declined in choppy trade as macroeconomic worries resurfaced along with increase in crude oil prices. India imports majority of its crude oil requirements. The S&P BSE Sensex shed 44.45 points or 0.18% to settle at 25,201.80, while the CNX Nifty shed 17.50 points or 0.23% to settle at 7,540.70, its lowest closing level since 16 June 2014.
United Spirits dropped 7.88% as the open offer made by Diageo, the world's largest liquor maker, to acquire additional stake in the company ends today, 19 June 2014. Diageo made an open offer to public shareholders of United Spirits to acquire an additional 26% stake at Rs 3,030 per share. The offer opened on 6 June 2014 and ends today, 19 June 2014.
Shares of state-run upsteam oil firms dropped on concerns their subsidy burden will rise along with increase in crude oil prices. ONGC lost 4.95% at Rs 421.25. Oil India shed 6.24% at Rs 561. ONGC and Oil India share part of the under-recoveries of state-run oil refining-cum-marketing firms (PSU OMCs ) arising from the government-imposed price caps on prices three key fuels -- diesel, LPG for domestic use and kerosene.
ONGC and Oil India also slipped after media reports suggested that the petroleum ministry has proposed that higher gas price as per the Rangarajan formula could be allowed only for incremental production over and above the current levels. This is an alternative to applying the formula unconditionally from 1 July 2014. Restricting the higher price to additional output, the ministry feels, would incentivise production while also protecting the interests of consuming industries like power and fertilisers, reports said.
IT stocks gained after the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday, 18 June 2014, gave a positive assessment of the world's largest economy and committed to retaining its accommodative monetary policy. The US is the biggest outsourcing market for the Indian IT firms. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (up 2.36%), Infosys (up 1.83%), HCL Technologies (up 1.57%), Wipro (up 1.22%) and Tech Mahindra (up 0.49%) gained. MindTree advanced 3.82% to Rs 862 after hitting a record high of Rs 872 in intraday trade.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region- Taiwan's Taiex index rose 0.4% to 9316.81. South Korea's KOSPI index was up 0.13% to 1992.15. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index sank 0.48% to 4864.27. Malaysia's KLSE Composite added 0.26% to1881.48. New Zealand's NZX50 jumped 0.15% to 5192.15. Singapore's Straits Times index fell 0.24% to 3269.02.
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