Asian stocks, currencies rise as US rate-cut bets firm
Updates at 0741 GMT
Taiwan stocks jump 1.9% to hit record high
Indonesian rupiah, Philippine peso gain 0.1%, each
Malaysia and South Korea policy decisions on Thursday
By Ayushman Ojha
July 8 (Reuters) -Shares in Taiwan touched a record high on Monday, leading most other Asian equities higher, while most currencies inched up against the U.S. dollar on firming bets of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in September.
MSCI's index tracking equities in emerging markets .MSCIEF touched its highest since April 2022 and was last up 0.2%. It had jumped 1.7% last week. Trading was thin, as financial markets in Malaysia were closed.
Taiwan shares .TWII rose as much as 1.9% boosted by a global tech rally, with TSMC 2330.TW, the world's largest contract chipmaker and major supplier to Apple AAPL.O, hitting an all-time high.
In the Philippines, shares .PSI were up 0.6%, while Thai stocks .SETI added as much as 0.4%.
Globally, investors await Fed Chair Jerome Powell's address before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the crucial consumer price report on Thursday, which could bolster easing expectations as headline inflation is forecast to slow.
In Asia, interest rate decisions from South Korea and Malaysia are due on Thursday, where the central banks are expected to hold rates for now.
"The market is eyeing a cut (by the Bank of Korea) as early as August, but we believe it is still conditional as the forex level remains a concern, and housing prices (have) started to rise again," analysts at Barclays said.
Recent inflation data from countries such as Thailand and the Philippines have shown an easing trend, giving some leeway to the central banks to cut rates.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has more scope to cut rates at its next meeting in August, after annual inflation slowed in June, its governor Eli Remolona said.
Elsewhere, South Korean .KS11 shares, and Singapore stocks .STI lost 0.2%, each.
Regional currencies inched higher as the greenback remained on the back foot following surprisingly soft U.S. payrolls data on Friday, suggesting the Fed could start cutting rates as early as September.
Markets are now pricing in 76% odds for a rate cut in September, up from 64% a week ago. FEDWATCH
The Indonesian rupiah IDR=, and the Philippine peso PHP= gained 0.1%, each, while the Singapore dollar SGD= was largely unchanged.
The Thai baht THB=TH inched marginally higher, while the South Korean won KRW=KFTC lost 0.1%.
Markets are also awaiting China's inflation data on Wednesday and Malaysia's advanced gross domestic product estimates on Friday.
HIGHLIGHTS:
** China's central bank tweaks liquidity operations amid strong bond demand
** Prabowo's free-meal plan stirs investor fears about Indonesia's finances
Asia stock indexes and currencies at 0741 GMT | ||||||
COUNTRY | FX RIC | FX DAILY % | FX YTD % | INDEX | STOCKS DAILY % | STOCKS YTD % |
Japan | JPY= | -0.12 | -12.34 | .N225 | -0.32 | 21.86 |
China | CNY=CFXS | -0.02 | -2.36 | .SSEC | -0.93 | -1.76 |
India | INR=IN | +0.03 | -0.31 | .NSEI | -0.15 | 11.76 |
Indonesia | IDR= | +0.09 | -5.33 | .JKSE | -0.42 | -0.68 |
Malaysia | MYR= | - | -2.49 | .KLSE | - | 10.75 |
Philippines | PHP= | +0.08 | -5.29 | .PSI | 0.56 | 1.23 |
S.Korea | KRW=KFTC | -0.14 | -6.88 | .KS11 | -0.16 | 7.63 |
Singapore | SGD= | +0.0 | -2.19 | .STI | -0.22 | 5.03 |
Taiwan | TWD=TP | -0.06 | -5.41 | .TWII | 1.37 | 33.17 |
Thailand | THB=TH | +0.04 | -6.20 | .SETI | 0.28 | -7.07 |
Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
Asian stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Reporting by Ayushman Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Rashmi Aich
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