Asia Pacific share market closed mostly higher on Wednesday, 13 May
2015, overcoming recent weakness after a slight recovery in the bond
market. Market largely ignored a fresh batch of Chinese economic
indicators which came in just shy of expectations.
China's value-added industrial output was up 5.9% in April from a year earlier, accelerating from a 5.6% pace in March, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday. Industrial output increased 0.57% in April over the month. Meanwhile, retail sales grew 10% in April from a year earlier, slowing from a 10.2% increase in March.
Fixed-asset investment climbed 12% year-over-year in the January-April period, compared with a 13.5% pace in the first three months of the year.
Among Asian bourses
Australia market buoys by positive federal budget
The Australian share market advanced for second straight day, on the back of positive federal budget, with retailer and financial stocks leading the way. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 40.40 points, or 0.71%, to 5715.10 while the broader All Ordinaries Index added 37.70 points, or 0.66%, to 5710.80. Market turnover was relatively healthy, with 2.02 billion shares changing hands worth of A$5.32 billion.
Shares of consumer related companies advanced the most in Sydney market after the issuance of tax breaks. Investment bank Macquarie tipped Electronic retailers to benefit from [the] end of fringe benefits tax on portable electronic devices for small businesses, with particular upside potential to the computer category”. “Small businesses to benefit from immediate tax write-offs for assets $20,000 or less, enticing further spend on smaller business expansion and equipment." Electronic providers JB Hi-Fi rose 2.1% to A$20.90 and Harvey Norman added 5% to A$4.62. Dick Smith rose 3.3% to A$2.21. Office equipment and hardware provider Wesfarmers added 1.5% to A$44.15. Myer shares were up 10.3% to A$1.555 after the company announced a 2.4% rise in third quarter sales.
Banks and financial stocks were also ended higher. Commonwealth Bank of Australia added 1.3% to A$83.98, ANZ Banking Group 2.2% to A$33.11, and National Australia Bank 3.2% to A$35.65. Westpac Banking Corp was down 2.3% to A$33.27, after going ex-dividend
Materials and resources stocks were lower after disappointing Chinese industrial figures. Rio Tinto dropped by 0.4% to A$59.02. Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group closed down 2.3% to A$2.51. Resources giant BHP Billiton fell 0.1% to A$32.50 partly cushioned by its string of cost cutting measures announced on Tuesday night.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday that Australian wages excluding bonuses rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in the first quarter from the immediately preceding quarter and rose 2.3% from a year earlier. In the private sector, wages excluding bonuses rose 0.4% in the first quarter from the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2.2% from a year earlier. Public-sector wages rose 0.5% in the quarter and increased 2.4% from a year earlier.
Nikkei closes 0.7% up
Japanese share market closed higher, helped by data showing Japan ran a wider-than-expected current-account surplus in March and on expectations the Bank of Japan would buy equities. But gain was limited due to yen appreciation against the US dollar. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 139.88 points, or 0.71%, to finish at 19764.72. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares ended higher 1.94 points, or 0.12%, up at 1604.21.
Japan's current-account surplus widened to the most in seven years in March 2015, boosted by a surge in income from investment abroad and an improved trade balance. The surplus in the current account, the broadest measure of Japan's trade with the rest of the world, was 2.80 trillion yen in March before seasonal adjustment.
Total of 18 out of 33 TSE sectors ended higher, with shares of Nonferrous Metals, Metal Products, Mining, Iron & Steel, Oil & Coal Products, and Machinery issues being major gainers. Bucking the uptrend- Pulp & Paper, Insurance, Rubber Products, Banks, Air Transportation and Other Financial Business issues posted modest losses.
Telecom major KDDI Corp weakened by 2.4% to 2786.50 yen after posting 33% net-profit growth for the previous fiscal year but also forecasting slowing profit gains this year.
Casio Computer Co lost 4.2% to 2252 yen on news that Casio President Kazuo Kashio would step aside in favor of his son, Kazuhiro.
Fujifilm Holdings Corp climbed 1% to 4648.50 yen after striking an agreement to buy U.S. digital health startup TeraMedica.
The Bank of Japan said on Wednesday that outstanding bank loans rose 2.7% on year to Y425.29 trillion in April, with the pace of increase unchanged from +2.7% in March.
Outstanding loans by large banks raised 1.6% y/y in April, with pace of growth continued accelerating from 1.5% the previous month. Meanwhile, growth in lending by regional banks dropped to +3.8% from +3.9% in March.
China market drops after soft data
Mainland China equity market closed down in volatile trade, dragged by weaker than expected industrial output data and worries over a raft of new share listings. All the SSE sectors advanced with shares of utilities, tech, industrials, retailers, and consumer goods companies being major gainers. The Shanghai Composite Index declined 25.46 points, or 0.58%, to finish at 4375.76 points. The CSI300 index reduced by 28.98 points, or 0.61%, to 4718.44.
Investors were concerns over liquidity crunch as a spate of initial public offerings (IPOs) next week which could lock up some 3 trillion yuan ($483.19 billion) worth of subscription capital.
Total of 6 out of 10 SSE industry groups ended higher, with telecommunication services issue being major gainer, up 2.1%, followed by consumer discretionary up 1.1%, consumer staples up 1.3%, materials up 0.7%, information technology up 0.2%, and healthcare up 0.2%. On downside- utilities declined by 2.8%, energy 1.6%, financials 1.6%, and industrials 1.5%.
Banking stocks dipped as the market diverged over the impact of a government plan to let lenders and local governments use municipal bonds as collateral for borrowing, in an effort to help local authorities manage their massive debts. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China dropped 0.6% to 5.16 yuan. Agricultural Bank of China dipped 0.8% to 3.72 yuan.
Brokerages tumbled on fears of further regulatory tightening, particularly in the business of margin lending. CITIC Securities declined 3% to 33.37 yuan. Haitong Securities erased by 2.7% to HK$27.88.
Hang Seng falls 1.1% after soft China data
The Hong Kong stock market closed lower after reversing earlier gains, due to a fresh batch of weaker than expected China economic data. The benchmark index opened down 54 points and saw its losses widen. The Hang Seng Index fell 157.90 points or 0.58% to 27249.28, off an intra-day high of 27524.82 and day low of 27191.03. Turnover increased to HK$144.25 billion from HK$136 billion on Tuesday.
Shares of Mainland Chinese property developer China Resources Land sank 6.3% to HK$25.40 after resuming trading, following the company announcement of a plan to raise HK$10.1 billion by placing 400 million shares.
State-owned engineering giant China Railway Group advanced 0.9% to HK$10, boosted by news that a consortium led by one of its subsidiaries and two Russian design institutes won a bid for the construction of a Russian high-speed rail line between Moscow and Kazan, worth about $400 million.
Hong Kong-based Hang Seng Bank rallied 2.9% to HK$155.80 after it unveiled a plan to sell more of its stake in Shanghai-listed Industrial Bank Co for up to 16.8 billion yuan.
China Telecom Corp added 2.2% to HK$5.68 after it said it had started building the New Cross Pacific cable network connecting the U.S., mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, with six other partners from those markets, including Microsoft Corp. Total investment in the project exceeded $500 million, it said.
PetroChina Co rose 0.2% to HK$9.45, while China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) declined 0.6% to HK$6.9 after reports said the Chinese government is considering spinning off the natural-gas distribution businesses of the two energy giants so as to remove obstacles for the reform of state-owned enterprises.
Tencent (00700) softened 0.1% to HK$156.8 ahead of its earnings report after market close. Tencent posted a 6.6% rise in net profit to Rmb6883 million for the three months ended 31 March 2015. The revenue was Rmb22399 million, an increase of 21.7% from a year earlier and 6.8% from the previous quarter.
Sensex regains 27000 level
Indian stock market logged strong gains today on expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India after the latest government data showed easing of inflation based on consumer price index (CPI) to a four-month low in April. The upside was also supported by gains related to inclusion of some stocks in MSCI India index. Firmness in global stocks also supported gains on domestic bourses. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex settled above the psychological 27,000 mark after moving above and below that mark. The Sensex rose 373.62 points or 1.39% to settle at 27,251.10.
MSCI Inc announced that eight companies including Bharti Infratel, Eicher Motors, Lupin and Bharat Forge will be added to the list.
Sentiment was boosted after retail inflation cooled to a four-month low in April and industrial output growth slipped to a five-month low in March, increasing changes of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank at its next meeting. Data released by government after market hours yesterday, 12 May 2015 showed that industrial output growth touched a five-month low of 2.1% in March from a revised 4.9% in February on the back of an across-the-board slowdown in production. Consumer price index-based retail inflation eased to a four-month low of 4.87% in April from a revised 5.25% in March as prices of food items, vegetables and fruits turned cheaper.
Index heavyweight and housing finance major HDFC edged higher. Interest rate sensitive bank stocks gained after latest government data showed easing of inflation based on consumer price index (CPI) to a four-month low in April raised expectations of interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) advanced on reports the company is planning to launch a new variant of its sports utility vehicle XUV500. Lupin declined after poor Q4 results. Many metal and mining stocks rose. Shares of power generation and power distribution companies gained.
Foreign portfolio investors sold Indian shares worth a net Rs 1340.99 crore into secondary equity market yesterday, 12 May 2015, as per data from Central Depository Services (India). Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1331.93 crore yesterday, 12 May 2015, as per provisional data.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region: Taiwan's Taiex index rose 0.5% to 9724.11. South Korea's KOSPI added 0.83% to 2114.16. New Zealand's NZX50 jumped 0.1% to 5751.76. Singapore's Straits Times index added 0.3% at 3453.17. Malaysia's KLCI climbed up 0.25% to 1803. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index rose 0.8% to 5246.13.
China's value-added industrial output was up 5.9% in April from a year earlier, accelerating from a 5.6% pace in March, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday. Industrial output increased 0.57% in April over the month. Meanwhile, retail sales grew 10% in April from a year earlier, slowing from a 10.2% increase in March.
Fixed-asset investment climbed 12% year-over-year in the January-April period, compared with a 13.5% pace in the first three months of the year.
Among Asian bourses
Australia market buoys by positive federal budget
The Australian share market advanced for second straight day, on the back of positive federal budget, with retailer and financial stocks leading the way. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 40.40 points, or 0.71%, to 5715.10 while the broader All Ordinaries Index added 37.70 points, or 0.66%, to 5710.80. Market turnover was relatively healthy, with 2.02 billion shares changing hands worth of A$5.32 billion.
Shares of consumer related companies advanced the most in Sydney market after the issuance of tax breaks. Investment bank Macquarie tipped Electronic retailers to benefit from [the] end of fringe benefits tax on portable electronic devices for small businesses, with particular upside potential to the computer category”. “Small businesses to benefit from immediate tax write-offs for assets $20,000 or less, enticing further spend on smaller business expansion and equipment." Electronic providers JB Hi-Fi rose 2.1% to A$20.90 and Harvey Norman added 5% to A$4.62. Dick Smith rose 3.3% to A$2.21. Office equipment and hardware provider Wesfarmers added 1.5% to A$44.15. Myer shares were up 10.3% to A$1.555 after the company announced a 2.4% rise in third quarter sales.
Banks and financial stocks were also ended higher. Commonwealth Bank of Australia added 1.3% to A$83.98, ANZ Banking Group 2.2% to A$33.11, and National Australia Bank 3.2% to A$35.65. Westpac Banking Corp was down 2.3% to A$33.27, after going ex-dividend
Materials and resources stocks were lower after disappointing Chinese industrial figures. Rio Tinto dropped by 0.4% to A$59.02. Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group closed down 2.3% to A$2.51. Resources giant BHP Billiton fell 0.1% to A$32.50 partly cushioned by its string of cost cutting measures announced on Tuesday night.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday that Australian wages excluding bonuses rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in the first quarter from the immediately preceding quarter and rose 2.3% from a year earlier. In the private sector, wages excluding bonuses rose 0.4% in the first quarter from the fourth quarter of 2014 and 2.2% from a year earlier. Public-sector wages rose 0.5% in the quarter and increased 2.4% from a year earlier.
Nikkei closes 0.7% up
Japanese share market closed higher, helped by data showing Japan ran a wider-than-expected current-account surplus in March and on expectations the Bank of Japan would buy equities. But gain was limited due to yen appreciation against the US dollar. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 139.88 points, or 0.71%, to finish at 19764.72. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares ended higher 1.94 points, or 0.12%, up at 1604.21.
Japan's current-account surplus widened to the most in seven years in March 2015, boosted by a surge in income from investment abroad and an improved trade balance. The surplus in the current account, the broadest measure of Japan's trade with the rest of the world, was 2.80 trillion yen in March before seasonal adjustment.
Total of 18 out of 33 TSE sectors ended higher, with shares of Nonferrous Metals, Metal Products, Mining, Iron & Steel, Oil & Coal Products, and Machinery issues being major gainers. Bucking the uptrend- Pulp & Paper, Insurance, Rubber Products, Banks, Air Transportation and Other Financial Business issues posted modest losses.
Telecom major KDDI Corp weakened by 2.4% to 2786.50 yen after posting 33% net-profit growth for the previous fiscal year but also forecasting slowing profit gains this year.
Casio Computer Co lost 4.2% to 2252 yen on news that Casio President Kazuo Kashio would step aside in favor of his son, Kazuhiro.
Fujifilm Holdings Corp climbed 1% to 4648.50 yen after striking an agreement to buy U.S. digital health startup TeraMedica.
The Bank of Japan said on Wednesday that outstanding bank loans rose 2.7% on year to Y425.29 trillion in April, with the pace of increase unchanged from +2.7% in March.
Outstanding loans by large banks raised 1.6% y/y in April, with pace of growth continued accelerating from 1.5% the previous month. Meanwhile, growth in lending by regional banks dropped to +3.8% from +3.9% in March.
China market drops after soft data
Mainland China equity market closed down in volatile trade, dragged by weaker than expected industrial output data and worries over a raft of new share listings. All the SSE sectors advanced with shares of utilities, tech, industrials, retailers, and consumer goods companies being major gainers. The Shanghai Composite Index declined 25.46 points, or 0.58%, to finish at 4375.76 points. The CSI300 index reduced by 28.98 points, or 0.61%, to 4718.44.
Investors were concerns over liquidity crunch as a spate of initial public offerings (IPOs) next week which could lock up some 3 trillion yuan ($483.19 billion) worth of subscription capital.
Total of 6 out of 10 SSE industry groups ended higher, with telecommunication services issue being major gainer, up 2.1%, followed by consumer discretionary up 1.1%, consumer staples up 1.3%, materials up 0.7%, information technology up 0.2%, and healthcare up 0.2%. On downside- utilities declined by 2.8%, energy 1.6%, financials 1.6%, and industrials 1.5%.
Banking stocks dipped as the market diverged over the impact of a government plan to let lenders and local governments use municipal bonds as collateral for borrowing, in an effort to help local authorities manage their massive debts. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China dropped 0.6% to 5.16 yuan. Agricultural Bank of China dipped 0.8% to 3.72 yuan.
Brokerages tumbled on fears of further regulatory tightening, particularly in the business of margin lending. CITIC Securities declined 3% to 33.37 yuan. Haitong Securities erased by 2.7% to HK$27.88.
Hang Seng falls 1.1% after soft China data
The Hong Kong stock market closed lower after reversing earlier gains, due to a fresh batch of weaker than expected China economic data. The benchmark index opened down 54 points and saw its losses widen. The Hang Seng Index fell 157.90 points or 0.58% to 27249.28, off an intra-day high of 27524.82 and day low of 27191.03. Turnover increased to HK$144.25 billion from HK$136 billion on Tuesday.
Shares of Mainland Chinese property developer China Resources Land sank 6.3% to HK$25.40 after resuming trading, following the company announcement of a plan to raise HK$10.1 billion by placing 400 million shares.
State-owned engineering giant China Railway Group advanced 0.9% to HK$10, boosted by news that a consortium led by one of its subsidiaries and two Russian design institutes won a bid for the construction of a Russian high-speed rail line between Moscow and Kazan, worth about $400 million.
Hong Kong-based Hang Seng Bank rallied 2.9% to HK$155.80 after it unveiled a plan to sell more of its stake in Shanghai-listed Industrial Bank Co for up to 16.8 billion yuan.
China Telecom Corp added 2.2% to HK$5.68 after it said it had started building the New Cross Pacific cable network connecting the U.S., mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, with six other partners from those markets, including Microsoft Corp. Total investment in the project exceeded $500 million, it said.
PetroChina Co rose 0.2% to HK$9.45, while China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) declined 0.6% to HK$6.9 after reports said the Chinese government is considering spinning off the natural-gas distribution businesses of the two energy giants so as to remove obstacles for the reform of state-owned enterprises.
Tencent (00700) softened 0.1% to HK$156.8 ahead of its earnings report after market close. Tencent posted a 6.6% rise in net profit to Rmb6883 million for the three months ended 31 March 2015. The revenue was Rmb22399 million, an increase of 21.7% from a year earlier and 6.8% from the previous quarter.
Sensex regains 27000 level
Indian stock market logged strong gains today on expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India after the latest government data showed easing of inflation based on consumer price index (CPI) to a four-month low in April. The upside was also supported by gains related to inclusion of some stocks in MSCI India index. Firmness in global stocks also supported gains on domestic bourses. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex settled above the psychological 27,000 mark after moving above and below that mark. The Sensex rose 373.62 points or 1.39% to settle at 27,251.10.
MSCI Inc announced that eight companies including Bharti Infratel, Eicher Motors, Lupin and Bharat Forge will be added to the list.
Sentiment was boosted after retail inflation cooled to a four-month low in April and industrial output growth slipped to a five-month low in March, increasing changes of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank at its next meeting. Data released by government after market hours yesterday, 12 May 2015 showed that industrial output growth touched a five-month low of 2.1% in March from a revised 4.9% in February on the back of an across-the-board slowdown in production. Consumer price index-based retail inflation eased to a four-month low of 4.87% in April from a revised 5.25% in March as prices of food items, vegetables and fruits turned cheaper.
Index heavyweight and housing finance major HDFC edged higher. Interest rate sensitive bank stocks gained after latest government data showed easing of inflation based on consumer price index (CPI) to a four-month low in April raised expectations of interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) advanced on reports the company is planning to launch a new variant of its sports utility vehicle XUV500. Lupin declined after poor Q4 results. Many metal and mining stocks rose. Shares of power generation and power distribution companies gained.
Foreign portfolio investors sold Indian shares worth a net Rs 1340.99 crore into secondary equity market yesterday, 12 May 2015, as per data from Central Depository Services (India). Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1331.93 crore yesterday, 12 May 2015, as per provisional data.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region: Taiwan's Taiex index rose 0.5% to 9724.11. South Korea's KOSPI added 0.83% to 2114.16. New Zealand's NZX50 jumped 0.1% to 5751.76. Singapore's Straits Times index added 0.3% at 3453.17. Malaysia's KLCI climbed up 0.25% to 1803. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index rose 0.8% to 5246.13.
