China rate cut lifts most Asia stocks but concerns remain

HONG KONG (AFP) – Asian stock markets Monday welcomed China's latest cut in interest rates ahead of this week's policy meeting, but analysts warned the move indicates further weakness in the world's number two economy.

While Friday's move – the sixth reduction since November – realised hopes for further monetary easing, Premier Li Keqiang tempered the mood by indicating China's economy could grow less than seven percent this year.

Asian markets rallied in early trade Monday but the gains were tempered later on, with Hong Kong and Sydney retreating.

Shanghai ended 0.50 percent higher but Hong Kong finished 0.15 percent down.

Tokyo closed up 0.65 percent, having been more than one percent higher at one point, while Seoul closed 0.38 percent stronger.

Sydney, where several firms with close business ties to China are listed, eased 0.07 percent.

Emerging-market currencies also retreated as the latest announcement led to concerns about the Chinese outlook, a week after official data showed the economy expanded in the third quarter at its slowest pace for six years.

Global markets suffered a mauling in July-September on worries about China as well as an expected US rate rise.

However, with the Federal Reserve now showing signs it will delay any monetary tightening until next year, October has seen a healthy rally across equities and higher-risk assets.

On Friday the People's Bank of China cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points and lowered the reserve ratio requirement – the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve. The two moves should free up cash

It also abolished its official cap on rates for savers, allowing financial institutions to offer customers a marketbased rate of return.

The decision – days before the Communist Party met Monday to set the direction of the economy in the next Five Year Plan – will bring significantly more competition to the financial sector in the predominantly state-controlled economy.

It also comes as Beijing seeks a greater international role for the yuan, including joining the exclusive ranks of the International Monetary Fund's spe- cial drawing rights reserve currency.

Some commentators suggested the rate cut could hide deeper problems in the Asian economic giant.

''China's policy easing suggests the Chinese economy still faces significant downward pressure,'' Australia & New Zealand Banking Group analysts wrote in a note to clients.

''While central bank actions across the G10 have typically been viewed in a 'bad-news-is-good' framework, the easing from the PBoC in China late on Friday was seen as a foreboding sign for global growth.''

High-risk currencies receded against the dollar as investors' unease over the Chinese economy trumped expectations for US interest rates to stay at record lows into 2016.

The South Korean won shed 0.80 percent, Indonesia's rupiah eased 0.10 percent and the Malaysian ringgit was 0.32 percent lower. The Taiwan dollar and Thai baht also dipped.

The euro remained under pressure against the yen and dollar after European Central Bank head Mario Draghi on Thursday hinted at another round of monetary easing to boost the eurozone economy.

The single currency bought $1.1035 and 133.50 yen, compared with $1.1016 and 133.80. It had been sitting at $1.1339 and 135.65 yen in Asia Thursday before the comments.