HONG KONG, July 26 ― Asian shares wobbled today and bonds were firm as a profit warning from Walmart put consumption and company earnings under a cloud ahead of what is likely to be another sharp US interest rate hike.
MSCI's broadest gauge of Asia stocks outside Japan meandered just above flat. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.2 per cent and S&P 500 futures were down 0.4 per cent.
US retailer Walmart Inc cut its profit forecast yesterday and said customers were paring back discretionary purchases as inflation bites household budgets. Shares fell 10 per cent after hours and rivals Target and Amazon also slid.
Investors are also awaiting a likely 75 basis point Federal Reserve interest rate increase later this week ― with markets pricing about a 10 per cent risk of a larger hike, as well as waiting to see whether economic warning signs prompt a shift in rhetoric.
“We are leaning to the view that 75 bps is most likely but won't be the end unless they see some demand destruction and some tempering of inflation,” said John Milroy, an investment adviser at Ord Minnett.
“We are fearful they have to materially slow the US economy further.” Big technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Amazon.com are due to report earnings this week.
“The market has stabilised (from rate hike expectations),” said Redmond Wong, Greater China market strategist at Saxo Markets in Hong Kong. “The focus is now on earnings.” Chinese stocks managed small gains, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index up 0.4 per cent and China's benchmark CSI300 Index up 0.3 per cent in early trade.
In currencies, the dollar was marginally softer but not drifting too far below recent milestone highs as uncertainty continues to swirl around the rates and economic outlook.
The euro bought US$1.0237 (RM4.54) and the yen steadied at 136.34 per dollar. The US dollar index, which touched a 20-year high this month, was down slightly to 106.300.
Oil prices rose on expectations Russia's reduction in natural gas supply to Europe could encourage a switch to crude, with Brent futures last up 1 per cent at US$106.17 a barrel and US crude up 0.7 per cent to US$97.37 a barrel.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields fell 3.5 bps to 3.7850 per cent as growth worries gave support to bonds.
Gold hovered at US$1,725 an ounce and bitcoin nursed overnight losses at US$21,100. ― Reuters
