Asia stocks rise as dollar holds gains; oil slides on Iran talks
By Bloomberg
Asian stocks rose a fourth day amid relief over Greece’s debt deal, with the dollar holding gains as attention shifted back to the timeline for higher U.S. interest rates. Crude oil dropped amid prospects for a deal on Iranian exports.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.8 percent by 12:30 p.m. in Tokyo, with Japan’s Topix index jumping 1.5 percent as the yen hovered near an almost two-week low. The Shanghai Composite Index fluctuated after a three-day rebound. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was steady, while Singapore’s currency dropped after the city’s economy contracted. Oil slipped 1.1 percent in New York, while soybeans advanced as weather threatened crops from the U.S. to India.
While Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tries to ram reforms demanded by creditors through parliament, investors are refocusing on the U.S. economy. Retail-sales data Tuesday and Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s testimony from Wednesday will be watched for signs as to the timing of any interest-rate increases. More Chinese companies are resuming trading amid signs the equity rout that wiped out almost $4 trillion in value has been calmed.
“One important side-effect of diminished Greece concerns Monday has been the recovery in Fed rate hike expectations,” BNP Paribas SA strategists including Daniel Katzive wrote in a note dated July 14. “A firm run of U.S. data this week could see expectations pulled a bit further forward to the benefit of the USD.”
Dollar Returns
The dollar climbed a fourth day against Japan’s currency, gaining 0.1 percent to 123.49 yen after a 0.5 percent gain Monday. It traded at $1.1001 per euro, after jumping 1.4 percent on Monday, and gained 0.7 percent versus the won.
The Bloomberg dollar gauge, which tracks the greenback against 10 major peers, rose 0.6 percent Monday. Singapore’s currency slipped to 1.3611 per dollar after the economy shrank 4.6 percent in the three months to June from the previous quarter. That fell short of even the most pessimistic estimate among economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
Yellen testifies before the U.S. Congress Wednesday and Thursday. Last week she said that, while she still expects to tighten policy this year, the subsequent pace of rate increases will be gradual. As well as retail sales, U.S. investors will be examining data on industrial output, housing starts, inflation and consumer sentiment this week.
Asian Equities
Japanese stocks rose a third day with the Topix headed for its highest close since July 3. New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index snapped a four-day drop, while the Kospi index in Seoul was little changed.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 1.6 percent in Sydney, led by mining shares as iron-ore prices rose a third day. The Australian dollar added 0.3 percent after a gauge of business confidence climbed.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.3 percent and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland companies listed in the city also retreated 0.9 percent. The so called H-share index rebounded 8.1 percent the previous three days.
The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.5 percent after falling as much as 1.2 percent. The gauge surged 13 percent from Wednesday’s almost four-month low through Monday. China’s total social financing surged to 1.86 trillion yuan in June, eclipsing economists’ projections for a rise to 1.4 trillion yuan anid a raft of easing measures.
Greek Repayment
Greece repaid 20 billion yen ($162 million) on a samurai bond due Tuesday, Masako Shiono, spokeswoman for bond agent Mizuho Financial Group Inc., said by phone. A Greek finance ministry official earlier confirmed the government planned to repay the debt.
The S&P 500 rose 1.1 percent Monday, with all of its 10 main industry groups climbing. Technology and consumer- discretionary stocks added at least 1.5 percent to post the biggest advances. An index of 30 retailers climbed to an all- time high, bolstered by gains in Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. that sent both to records.
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo & Co. and Intel Corp. are among S&P 500 members slated to report results this week. Analysts project earnings for companies on the equity benchmark dropped 6.4 percent in the second-quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Iran Exports
West Texas Intermediate oil slid to $51.65 a barrel with diplomats said to be preparing to present the final text of a deal that could free Iran to export more crude. Brent dropped 0.7 percent to $57.45 a barrel after Saudi Arabia told OPEC that it boosted oil production to a record.
Soybeans rose for a fifth day, climbing as much as 1.6 percent to $10.45 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade, the highest for a most-active contract since Jan. 12. Excess rains in parts of the Midwest are raising concern about the health of the U.S. crop at the same time as a dry spell in India threatens fresh plantings.
Nickel for three-month delivery resumed losses in London, declining 2 percent to $11,515 a metric ton after gaining 4.4 percent Monday.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!