HONG KONG, March 11 — Asian and European markets ticked higher today as inflation concerns eased, allowing investors to focus on the global recovery and progress in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Investors were given a positive lead from Wall Street, where the Dow ended at a new record, helped by news that Joe Biden’s stimulus had cleared its last hurdle in Congress, as expected, meaning he can sign it into law before the weekend, pumping almost US$2 trillion (RM8.2 trillion) into the economy.
Hopes for an improvement in China-US relations were also given a lift by news that top Washington and Beijing officials will meet for their first talks next week.
Fears that a strong rebound in world growth this year will cause a surge in inflation that forces the Federal Reserve and other central banks to wind back their ultra-loose monetary policies — including record-low interest rates — have fuelled a sell-off across risk assets in recent months.
But data Wednesday showing US prices rose slightly less than expected in February soothed those concerns, with the main diver of the increases being food and energy costs.
That came as a closely watched auction of benchmark US 10-year Treasuries went off without any problems with the notes selling at a yield broadly in line with expectations.
Worries about a surge in inflation have lifted US yields to around one-year highs, while a weak sale of seven-year bonds sparked a stock market sell-off. Yields rise as prices fall.
“For now, there is nothing for the inflationistas to ring the alarm, while at the same time it provides the Fed plenty of breathing space” ahead of its meeting next week, said National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril.
The inflation data “suggests the music will keep playing for some time, with the Fed not even close to pondering the option of watering down the punchbowl”.
He said the consumer price index will naturally jump next month owing to the low base effect from last year.
Fresh China-US hopes
Asian markets were positive today, taking their lead from Wall Street, as well as a third straight record in Frankfurt and a one-year high for Paris.
Hong Kong rose more than one per cent with Taipei, Shanghai jumped more than two per cent and Seoul 1.9 per cent. Tokyo, Singapore, Wellington and Bangkok also rose, while Sydney was barely moved and Manila fell.
London, Paris and Frankfurt all rose at the open.
The healthy US data came as the House of Representatives passed Biden’s economic rescue package, which will plant up to US$1,400 into struggling Americans’ pockets, expend unemployment benefits, boost healthcare funding and ramp up vaccine distribution.
The get-together between key Chinese and US aides in Alaska also provided an optimistic tone Thursday, after four years of Donald Trump’s sledgehammer diplomacy with Beijing that rattled world markets.
“Regional markets have seized on hopes that Sino-US relations could be about to improve, which will be bullish for trade and, by default, positive for Asia,” said OANDA’s Jeffrey Halley.
“Those hopes may be premature, but that hasn’t stopped animal spirits from being released across mainland China equity markets, and their equally FOMO (fear of missing out) neighbours in Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.”
Eyes are now on the European Central Bank’s policy meeting later in the day, which will be followed for its outlook on interest rates and its vast bond-buying programme as the world economy recovers from last year’s collapse.
The Fed holds its gathering next week, which Axi’s Stephen Innes said “could provide a trigger for a renewed selloff in US rates” if policymakers continue to brush off the rise in bond yields.
Key figures around 0820 GMT
Tokyo — Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 per cent at 29,211.64 (close)
Hong Kong — Hang Seng: UP 1.7 per cent at 29,385.61 (close)
Shanghai — Composite: UP 2.4 per cent at 3,436.83 (close)
London — FTSE 100: UP 0.3 per cent at 6,742.71
Euro/dollar: DOWN at US$1.1931 from US$1.1932 at 2220 GMT
Pound/dollar: UP at US$1.3943 from US$1.3928
Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.57 pence from 85.60 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 108.78 yen from 108.38 yen
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.8 per cent at US$64.95 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.7 per cent at US$68.40 per barrel
New York — Dow: UP 1.5 per cent at 32,297.02 (close) — AFP
