Asia Pacific share market ended mostly lower on Tuesday, 04 August 2015,
on tracking weak lead from Wall Street overnight and as weak
manufacturing data reignited concerns about the world's number two
economy.
Wall Street stocks fell on Monday with petroleum-linked equities retreating on a big drop in oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.52%, while the broad-based S&P 500 shed 0.28%.
Two recent surveys showed China's giant manufacturing industry weakened in July, suggesting government efforts to stimulate the world's No. 2 economy aren't gaining broad traction. The China's Caixin manufacturing PMI, released on Monday, inked a result of 47.8 in July, well below the 50 point mark which separates expansion from contraction. The result was the lowest point for the read in two years, and a sharp fall from the 49.4 result in June. On Saturday, the government's official manufacturing purchasing managers index slipped to 50.0 in July from 50.2 in June.
Market participant opted wait and see tune ahead of a heavy week of US economic indicators. The most eagerly anticipated release is Friday's jobs report for July, which could strengthen confidence the Federal Reserve will soon raise interest rates, perhaps even in September.
In Base metals, copper and aluminium prices sank to six-year lows on the London Metal Exchange as concerns over demand for the industrial metal grew amid new data showing weakness in China's economy.
Crude oil fell to a six-month low overnight as Iran vowed to boost production immediately after sanctions are lifted and manufacturing in China slowed. Brent futures declined as much as 2.6%, extending an 18% drop in July that was the biggest in seven months. Iran can raise output by 500,000 barrels a day within a week of sanctions ending, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Crude oil were trading higher in Asian trade on Monday, but remained below $50 a barrel amid concern over a global supply glut. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September rose 33 cents to $45.50 while Brent crude for September increased 38 cents to $49.90.
Among Asian bourses
Retailer drives Australia market rally
The Australian share market enjoyed a modest gain, as strength in utilities, drug maker and consumer goods stocks after strong retail sales data were more than offset by weakness in energy and material stocks after pullback in commodity prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index and the broader All Ordinaries Index both advanced by 0.3% to 5697.90 and 5681.90, respectively.
Japan stocks mixed on weak offshore lead
Japanese share market finished the session softer in quiet trade on Tuesday, 04 August 2015, as poor leads from Wall Street overnight, weak Chinese manufacturing data and US earnings, and dip in commodity price hit sentiments. The Nikkei Stock Average declined 27.75 points, or 0.14%, to end at 20520.36 points. The broader Topix index ended 0.23 point, or 0.01%, higher at 1659.83 points.
China market surges on short-selling limits
Mainland China's stock market ended sharply higher after two stock exchanges stepped up crackdown on short-selling. All 10 SSE sectoral indices spurted, with telecommunication service and information technology issues were top gainer. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended 133.64 points, or 3.69%, higher at 3756.54 points. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, jumped 4.77%, or 97.84 points, to 2150.95 points.
China has strengthened its stance against short-selling shares and major brokerages suspended businesses involved in the practice following massive losses in the country's stock markets. The Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges said in separate statements on Monday night that new rules, effective immediately, banned traders from borrowing and repaying stocks on the same day - a step that raises risks for short-sellers. Short-selling is a term used to describe a practice of selling shares that are not owned at the time by the seller. Short-selling provides liquidity to operators in exchange for higher risk. Citic Securities, Huatai Securities and smaller rival China Great Wall Securities have announced that they will temporarily suspend their short-selling services.
China's stock exchanges and market watchdogs are cracking down on short-selling as part of a government-run effort to prevent a collapse in the country's markets, which have lost almost 30% of their value since peaking in June.
Hong Kong market ends softer
The Hong Kong stock market ended softer after a volatile ride, as appetite for risk assets dimmed after weak manufacturing data reignited concerns about the world's number two economy. The benchmark opened 47 points lower, but recovered all the lost ground and soared as many as 107 points early afternoon before giving up all the gains. The Hang Seng Index ended 5.30 points, or 0.02%, higher at 24406.12 points. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, benchmark measure of performance of mainland China enterprises, rebounded 64.96 points, or 0.59%, to 11074.92 points. Turnover increased to HK$79.5 billion from HK$77.7 billion on Friday.
Sensex, NSE Nifty snaps 4-day winning streak
Indian equity markets snapped a four-day winning streak on Tuesday as investors turned cautious after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept key rates unchanged. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 115.13 points or 0.41% to settle at 28,071.93. The CNX Nifty fell 26.15 points or 0.31% to settle at 8,516.90.
The selloff momentum flared after India's weather office predicted below normal rains during the second half of southwest monsoon season (August to September), with a probability of 86%. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 7.25% after a monetary policy review today, 4 August 2015. RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan left the door open for monetary policy easing.
Bank stocks edged higher in volatile trade after Rajan said in his monetary policy statement that the RBI is awaiting greater transmission of monetary policy by way of cut in base rate by commercial banks.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought Indian shares worth Rs 440.09 crore from the secondary equity market yesterday, 3 July 2015, as per data from National Securities Depository (NSDL). Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 33.36 crore yesterday, 3 August 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region: Taiwan's Taiex index fell 0.16% to 8510.86. South Korea's KOSPI added 1% to 2028. New Zealand's NZX50 sank 0.42% to 5933.75. Singapore's Straits Times index lost 0.1% at 3191.04. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index shed 0.4% to 4781.09. Malaysia's KLCI fell 1.2% to 1723.73.
Wall Street stocks fell on Monday with petroleum-linked equities retreating on a big drop in oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.52%, while the broad-based S&P 500 shed 0.28%.
Two recent surveys showed China's giant manufacturing industry weakened in July, suggesting government efforts to stimulate the world's No. 2 economy aren't gaining broad traction. The China's Caixin manufacturing PMI, released on Monday, inked a result of 47.8 in July, well below the 50 point mark which separates expansion from contraction. The result was the lowest point for the read in two years, and a sharp fall from the 49.4 result in June. On Saturday, the government's official manufacturing purchasing managers index slipped to 50.0 in July from 50.2 in June.
Market participant opted wait and see tune ahead of a heavy week of US economic indicators. The most eagerly anticipated release is Friday's jobs report for July, which could strengthen confidence the Federal Reserve will soon raise interest rates, perhaps even in September.
In Base metals, copper and aluminium prices sank to six-year lows on the London Metal Exchange as concerns over demand for the industrial metal grew amid new data showing weakness in China's economy.
Crude oil fell to a six-month low overnight as Iran vowed to boost production immediately after sanctions are lifted and manufacturing in China slowed. Brent futures declined as much as 2.6%, extending an 18% drop in July that was the biggest in seven months. Iran can raise output by 500,000 barrels a day within a week of sanctions ending, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Crude oil were trading higher in Asian trade on Monday, but remained below $50 a barrel amid concern over a global supply glut. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September rose 33 cents to $45.50 while Brent crude for September increased 38 cents to $49.90.
Among Asian bourses
Retailer drives Australia market rally
The Australian share market enjoyed a modest gain, as strength in utilities, drug maker and consumer goods stocks after strong retail sales data were more than offset by weakness in energy and material stocks after pullback in commodity prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index and the broader All Ordinaries Index both advanced by 0.3% to 5697.90 and 5681.90, respectively.
Japan stocks mixed on weak offshore lead
Japanese share market finished the session softer in quiet trade on Tuesday, 04 August 2015, as poor leads from Wall Street overnight, weak Chinese manufacturing data and US earnings, and dip in commodity price hit sentiments. The Nikkei Stock Average declined 27.75 points, or 0.14%, to end at 20520.36 points. The broader Topix index ended 0.23 point, or 0.01%, higher at 1659.83 points.
China market surges on short-selling limits
Mainland China's stock market ended sharply higher after two stock exchanges stepped up crackdown on short-selling. All 10 SSE sectoral indices spurted, with telecommunication service and information technology issues were top gainer. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended 133.64 points, or 3.69%, higher at 3756.54 points. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, jumped 4.77%, or 97.84 points, to 2150.95 points.
China has strengthened its stance against short-selling shares and major brokerages suspended businesses involved in the practice following massive losses in the country's stock markets. The Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges said in separate statements on Monday night that new rules, effective immediately, banned traders from borrowing and repaying stocks on the same day - a step that raises risks for short-sellers. Short-selling is a term used to describe a practice of selling shares that are not owned at the time by the seller. Short-selling provides liquidity to operators in exchange for higher risk. Citic Securities, Huatai Securities and smaller rival China Great Wall Securities have announced that they will temporarily suspend their short-selling services.
China's stock exchanges and market watchdogs are cracking down on short-selling as part of a government-run effort to prevent a collapse in the country's markets, which have lost almost 30% of their value since peaking in June.
Hong Kong market ends softer
The Hong Kong stock market ended softer after a volatile ride, as appetite for risk assets dimmed after weak manufacturing data reignited concerns about the world's number two economy. The benchmark opened 47 points lower, but recovered all the lost ground and soared as many as 107 points early afternoon before giving up all the gains. The Hang Seng Index ended 5.30 points, or 0.02%, higher at 24406.12 points. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, benchmark measure of performance of mainland China enterprises, rebounded 64.96 points, or 0.59%, to 11074.92 points. Turnover increased to HK$79.5 billion from HK$77.7 billion on Friday.
Sensex, NSE Nifty snaps 4-day winning streak
Indian equity markets snapped a four-day winning streak on Tuesday as investors turned cautious after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept key rates unchanged. The S&P BSE Sensex fell 115.13 points or 0.41% to settle at 28,071.93. The CNX Nifty fell 26.15 points or 0.31% to settle at 8,516.90.
The selloff momentum flared after India's weather office predicted below normal rains during the second half of southwest monsoon season (August to September), with a probability of 86%. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept its benchmark lending rate viz. the repo rate unchanged at 7.25% after a monetary policy review today, 4 August 2015. RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan left the door open for monetary policy easing.
Bank stocks edged higher in volatile trade after Rajan said in his monetary policy statement that the RBI is awaiting greater transmission of monetary policy by way of cut in base rate by commercial banks.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought Indian shares worth Rs 440.09 crore from the secondary equity market yesterday, 3 July 2015, as per data from National Securities Depository (NSDL). Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 33.36 crore yesterday, 3 August 2015, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges.
Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region: Taiwan's Taiex index fell 0.16% to 8510.86. South Korea's KOSPI added 1% to 2028. New Zealand's NZX50 sank 0.42% to 5933.75. Singapore's Straits Times index lost 0.1% at 3191.04. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite index shed 0.4% to 4781.09. Malaysia's KLCI fell 1.2% to 1723.73.
