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Asian markets largely extended their
losses on Wednesday despite Wall Street registering strong gains as investors
remained on edge over escalating US-China trade tensions.
Asia’s losses came despite a gain of more than one percent for US indices
as Wall Street recovered from a multi-session losing streak that saw the Dow
hit its lowest level this year.
Equities had tumbled Monday after Beijing allowed the yuan to slide
sharply against the dollar following US President Donald Trump’s announcement
that he would impose 10 percent tariffs on another $300 billion in Chinese
goods starting September 1.
But Beijing’s move to stabilise the yuan after it dropped below the key
7.0 per dollar threshold helped to ease fears of a currency war despite
Washington formally branding China a “currency manipulator”.
“The move… to strengthen the yuan calmed markets after a drop on Monday.
Emerging markets got some breathing room and rebounded”, said Edward Moya,
senior market analyst at OANDA.
But he warned that “trade war concerns remain very much front of mind….
at this point more details and statements from both sides are needed to
inject calm into a volatile market”.
Hong Kong fell 0.7 percent despite inching up at the open, while Tokyo
shed 0.8 percent amid safe-haven purchasing of the yen.
A strong yen clouds the outlook for Japanese exporters as it reduces their
profits when they are repatriated.
Shanghai also dropped 0.2 percent. But other emerging markets saw gains,
with Jakarta and Manila climbing around one percent.
US-China trade tensions have risen sharply since last week following
Trump’s latest tariffs announcement, which would subject virtually all of the
$660 billion in goods traded between the world’s two top economies to
punitive duties.
The yuan’s slump fuelled speculation that Beijing was devaluing the
currency to support exporters and offset the tariffs threat, infuriating
Washington.
Multiple rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs between the two countries have
already battered trade and raised fears for the health of the global economy.
Chinese and US negotiators are set to reconvene in Washington in early
September for another round of talks after last week’s discussions in
Shanghai, but expectations of a deal are low.
– Key figures around 0300 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.8 percent at 20,417.56 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.7 percent at 25,807.92
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 2,773.31
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2167 from $1.2163 at 2045 GMT
Euro/pound: UP at 92.13 pence from 92.09 pence
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1209 from $1.1202
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 106.08 yen from 106.49 yen
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN six cents at $58.88 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN nine cents at $53.54 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 1.2 percent at 26,029.52 (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.7 percent at 7,171.69 (close)
(BSS)
