On Monday, Asian stock markets recorded modest gains driven by growing belief that the U.S. Federal Reserve will refrain from further interest rate hikes. Additionally, hopes for the effectiveness of China’s economic stimulus measures bolstered investor sentiment.
This came against the backdrop of a U.S. holiday, contributing to a slow start to the trading week.
“Fed Rate Hike Speculation Rattles Asian Markets”
Investor relief was palpable as property developer Country Garden obtained approval to postpone bond payments. The broader Asia-Pacific stock index advanced by 0.1%, extending last week’s 2.3% surge.
Japan’s Nikkei index also registered a 0.2% uptick, following a substantial 3.4% gain the previous week. Remarkably, the Topix index scaled to its highest point in 33 years, with a 3.7% increase, underpinned by record corporate profits in the June quarter.
However, Japan’s Topix index maintains a lower price-to-earnings ratio compared to U.S. markets. This week, investors are closely monitoring the initial public offering of tech giant Arm Holdings, targeting a valuation between $50 billion and $54 billion.
Across the Pacific in the United States, futures for both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq remained relatively steady. The positive jobs report released on Friday alleviated concerns about imminent rate hikes.
Yet, wage growth dipped and revisions to previous months’ job data posed lingering uncertainties.
Gold prices ascended as the likelihood of a U.S. rate hike diminished. Meanwhile, oil prices held firm at elevated levels on the expectation of Saudi Arabia extending its oil production cut.
Looking ahead, central banks in Canada and Australia are anticipated to maintain stable interest rates. Conversely, the European Central Bank is unlikely to initiate rate hikes soon, given soft economic data.
The U.S. dollar retained its strength against the yen, while the euro encountered mounting pressure.
In summary, Asian markets showed resilience, drawing optimism from the potential pause in U.S. interest rate hikes and China’s economic stimulus endeavors.
Despite the slow start, the week holds significant developments in various sectors, with eyes on key events in the global financial landscape.