Skip to main content

Asian Stocks Track Wall St Tech Rally, U.S. Yields Cling To Highs!

 


HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian shares advanced on Wednesday with tech stocks particularly catching a lift following a strong session on Wall Street.

While U.S. Treasury yields held near multi-year highs ahead of closely watched inflation data this week.

Investors across asset classes are devoting considerable thought to the pace and timing of interest rate hikes by central banks across the world.

Barring any big surprises, the consumer price index should cement expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month, with a strong print offering further support to those tipping a larger 50 basis point rise.


MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 1% to its highest in two weeks, helped by a 3% gain in Hong Kong-listed tech stocks.

Japan's Nikkei gained 0.9%.

All three main Wall Street indexes closed higher with tech stocks including Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) jumping, as did bank stocks supported by the prospect of higher U.S interest rates. [.N]


Nonetheless, the Nasdaq Composite is still down 9.2% this year after a brutal January.

Manishi Raychaudhuri, the Asia-Pacific equity strategist at BNP Paribas (OTC:BNPQY), said market volatility was lingering as investors tried to figure out how often, how far and how fast central banks would raise interest rates.

"The overarching theme for the market is central banks’ monetary policies," he said. "I think volatilities will continue and will possibly increase.


But over the longer-term corporate balance sheets, particularly in Asian emerging markets look a lot better than they were earlier," he said.

Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific, gains in tech names helped Korea's KOSPI rise 0.8% and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTC:CMWAY), the country's largest bank gained 5% after announcing a A$2 billion share buyback.

Gains in Hong Kong financials and tech stocks meant the local benchmark rose 2%, unfazed by tighter restrictions to combat a new wave of COVID-19.

Trade With A Trusted Broker!


E-mini futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.23%.

However, focusing on U.S. inflation figures due Thursday is likely to cap further gains.

"Even though we sit in Asia, markets are still eagerly waiting for the Thursday CPI print out of the U.S. so are sitting on their hands right now," said Marcella Chow Hong Kong-based global market strategist at JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) Asset Management.


She said, "The market is currently expecting January's CPI to be 7.3% versus 7% in December".

And if it comes in higher than expected we could see 10-year yields go higher and even reach 2%, and push a value rotation," she also added.

Higher yields typically cause investors to move out of so-called growth stocks, particularly technology names, into value stocks.


U.S. Treasury yields held firm in Asian trading, after touching multi-year highs the day before as did yields in the eurozone.

The yield on 10-year Treasury notes was 1.9559%, having hit 1.97% on Tuesday, its highest since Nov 2019, and the two-year was 1.3435%, just below its highest since March 2020. [US/]

In Asia, the 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose 1 basis point to 0.215%, its highest since January 2016.


Currency markets were pretty quiet, though the dollar touched a one-month high against the yen, as the gains U.S. yields outpace those in Japan. [FRX/]

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six peers was steady at 95.536.

Oil regained some ground after falling earlier in the week due to optimism around talks with Iran, leading to a possible rise in supply.


Brent crude futures rose 0.3%, to $91.01 a barrel, while U.S. crude was at $89.47 a barrel, up 0.1%. [O/R/]

Spot gold was steady at $1826 per ounce. [GOL/] - investing.com

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Accumulate Wealth: Strategies for Effective Financial Resource Management

  In today's ever-changing business landscape, the skillful management of financial resources stands as a paramount concern for organizations striving to prosper and achieve success. Financial resources serve as the lifeblood of any enterprise, empowering them to invest, operate, and grow. This comprehensive article delves deep into the concept of Financial Resources, shedding light on what they are and offering insights into effective management strategies. While the keyword " where to accumulate wealth " is relevant to financial planning, this article primarily focuses on the broader concept of financial resources and their management within the business context. Understanding Financial Resources Financial resources encompass the funds and assets that an organization employs to finance its operations, projects, and investments. These resources exist in various forms, including cash, accounts receivable, investments, and more. Managing these resources effectively can ma...
Post a Comment
Read more

If the Federal Reserve doesn't do this, the U.S. economy and S&P 500 will have a hard landing.

The biggest reason to be hopeful that a recession caused by the Federal Reserve can be avoided next year was just taken away. In September and October, hourly pay went up, and in November, it went up even more. This pushed wage growth far above the range that is in line with the Fed's 2% inflation target. Nearly everyone agrees that the Fed needs to raise its inflation target, at least in practice, if the U.S. economy is to avoid a hard landing and a bigger drop for the S&P 500. The Fed might be willing to do this, but the economy would still need to cool down more before they stop raising interest rates. "The 2% inflation target is a lot more flexible than the Fed lets on," RSM chief economist Joe Brusuelas told IBD. "I don't think there's any constituency out there for the bloodletting that would be necessary." Brusuelas thinks that for inflation to return to 2%, the Fed would have to raise unemployment to 6.7%. But most of the way to 3% inflation ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Maximizing Financial Support for Graduate Students

  In our pursuit of comprehensive financial support for graduate students, we've identified key strategies and resources to help you secure the funding you need to thrive academically. Whether you are already in graduate school or planning to embark on this journey, we understand the importance of accessing additional financial support. In this guide, we will explore various avenues that can significantly enhance your financial resources and help you achieve your educational and career goals, with a specific focus on " Financial Support for Graduate Students. " Additionally, we recognize the significance of " private student loans for international students in the USA " as an essential topic for a broader audience seeking relevant information. Scholarships and Grants 1.1. Academic Excellence Scholarships If you're excelling in your academic pursuits, there are numerous scholarships available. These scholarships recognize and reward outstanding students who h...
Post a Comment
Read more