Asian stock markets mostly down shaken by quake, euro
HONG KONG: Asian markets were mostly down on Friday ending three days of gains as the euro hit its lowest level in six months and a strong earthquake in Japan left investors rattled.
The euro fell lower than the levels seen after Britain’s shock decision to leave the European Union in June, following the ECB’s Thursday announcement that it would maintain the size and scope of its bondbuying programme.
Players were watching closely to see if ECB Chief Mario Draghi would hint at an extension — or a winding down — of the drip feed stimulus, with growth and inflation still lacklustre.
But with no immediate policy change on the cards, traders are now looking to the next meeting in December.
A six-month extension to the ECB’s stimulus scheme, which is currently set to end in March 2017, is widely expected then.
“It’s a double-whammy from the ECB meeting,” Matt Simpson, a senior market analyst at ThinkMarkets in Singapore, told Bloomberg. “Draghi didn’t talk tapering and suggested easing in December. That’s got traders pricing in a weaker euro.”
Investors are still focused on what the US central bank will do with its interest rate later this year.
Asian markets started the day positively as investors welcomed the ECB’s promise to maintain the status quo, but weak corporate earnings dragged on sentiment.
The final hour of trading in Tokyo was rattled by a strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake, sparking yen buying, which pushed down stocks.
“As often when there is an earthquake, the yen is bought” as Japanese investors repatriate funds, said Simon Pianfetti, a senior manager at the market solutions department at SMBC Trust Bank Ltd.
Computer-controlled orders are placed fast to react to news of earthquakes measuring greater than 6.0 magnitude or so, he told Bloomberg News.
The Nikkei 225 index, which was up at the lunch break, slipped 0.30 per cent, or 50.91 points, to close at 17,184.59, ending a five-day winning streak.
The Topix index of all first-section issues was down 0.40 per cent, or 5.51 points, at 1,365.29.
Shanghai closed slightly higher on Friday helped by buying of selective shares, dealers said.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.21 per cent, or 6.48 points, to 3,090.94 on turnover of 202.0 billion yuan ($29.9 billion). It gained 0.89 per cent for the week.
Singapore was also down after index heavyweight Keppel Corp — the world’s largest oil rig builder — announced Thursday it was slashing over a quarter of jobs in its offshore and marine business.
South Korean shares fell 0.37 per cent with Samsung falling nearly two per cent as Apple’s iPhone 7 hit stores across the country.
The benchmark KOSPI was down 7.60 points to close at 2,033.00 points.
‘It’s a double-whammy from the ECB meeting. Draghi didn’t talk tapering and suggested easing in December. That’s got traders pricing in a weaker euro’