Hong Kong: Asian markets got a dose of reality check; the euphoria over the successful trial data for a coronavirus vaccine cooled as concerns rose about roadblocks ahead of its public release.
“There is no doubt that the Pfizer vaccine news has altered the market’s outlook on the Covid pandemic, there is now some light at the end of the tunnel and the equity indices are holding the majority of their gains,” said Fiona Cincotta, a market analyst at Gain Capital. “However, the blind euphoria of yesterday has been replaced with a more cautious mood, there are still plenty of questions over the vaccine’s durability and distribution which need answering.”
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.26%, Australia’s S&P ASX 200 advanced 0.66% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index added 1.1%. China’s CSI300 eased 0.55% and was the regional underperformer after data showed inflation softening. CPI inflation hit the lowest level in 11 years, falling sharply to 0.5% year-on-year in October from 1.1% year-on-year in the previous month. PPI deflation remained unchanged at 2.1% in October as weak oil prices continued to drag.
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“If the CPI reading turns negative in the coming months, combined with continued PPI deflation, real interest rates will likely further rise, and downward pressure on profit growth will intensify,” HSBC Economist for Greater China Jingyang Chen said.
“While a gradual recovery in household consumption and lower base may support an upward trajectory in CPI inflation next year, we think the possibility of CPI deflation in the coming months will likely prevent the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) from tightening its policy stance by year-end.”
Gold jumps
The yuan was set at 6.5897 per dollar by the PBoC, 226 pips firmer than the previous fix of 6.6123 and its strongest level since June 27, 2018. The spot weakened to 6.6128 per dollar but still stronger than the previous day’s trading levels as investors bet on cooling US-China tensions and that Beijing will allow the currency to strengthen.
Gold prices jumped 0.62% to $1,878 per ounce as the US dollar weakened against a basket of currencies to 92.77.
US Treasuries came off lows but yields remained elevated as uncertainty swirled around the timing and size of the US stimulus. The 10-year yield was at 94.5 basis points and is 22 basis points higher than a week ago.
“We continue to assume that another fiscal stimulus package will not be forthcoming in coming months. Although we readily acknowledge that the new president and the incoming Congress could legislate further fiscal support, the size and timing of any such package is more or less impossible to forecast at this point,” Wells Fargo economists said in a note.
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Asia Stocks
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.26%
- Australia’s S&P ASX 200 advanced 0.66%
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index added 1.1%
- China’s CSI300 eased 0.55%
- The MSCI Asia Pacific index rose 1.37%%.
Stock of the day
Casino operator Wynn Macau Ltd shares rose as much as 11.2% after the company said in a results announcement it would postpone capital expenditure programmes to preserve cash.
This report appeared initially on Asia Times Financial.