Asian stocks, currencies rise on US rate cut wagers
Corrects paragraph 2 to say the U.S. inflation report is due later in the week, not later in the day
Taiwan stocks jump 1.9% to record high
Taiwanese dollar, South Korean won gain 0.2%, each
Malaysia and South Korea policy decisions on Thursday
By Ayushman Ojha
July 8 (Reuters) -Taiwan stocks surged to a record high on Monday leading regional equities broadly higher, while currencies gained on the dollar as investors firmed up expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in September.
A U.S. inflation report due later in the weekday could bolster easing expectations as headline inflation is forecast to slow.
MSCI's index tracking equities in emerging markets .MSCIEF was up 0.5% hovering at its highest since April 2022. It had jumped 1.7% last week. Trading was thin on Monday 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.
On a macro side, data on Friday showed Taiwan's June inflation came in slightly higher-than-expected.
In the Philippines, shares .PSI were up as much as 0.7%, while Thai stocks .SETI added as much as 0.4%.
Globally, investors await U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's address before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the crucial consumer price report on Thursday, to assess the timing of a rate cut.
In Asia, interest rate decisions from South Korea and Malaysia are due on Thursday, where expectations are for a hold for now.
"The market is eyeing a cut (by 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 (BSP) has more scope to cut interest rates at its next meeting in August after annual inflation slowed in June, its governor Eli Remolona said.
Elsewhere, South Korean .KS11 shares inched 0.2% higher, while Singapore stocks .STI lost 0.2%.
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 interest 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 Taiwan dollar TWD=TP, the South Korean won KRW=KFTC and the Indonesian rupiah IDR= gained 0.2%, each.
The Thai baht THB=TH inched 0.1% higher, while the Singapore dollar SGD= and the Philippine peso PHP= were largely flat.
Markets are also awaiting China's inflation data on Wednesday and advanced gross domestic product estimates from Malaysia 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
** Vietnam targeting Q3 GDP growth of 6.5%-7.0%, inflation below 4.5%, PM says
Asia stock indexes and currencies at 0511 GMT | ||||||
COUNTRY | FX RIC | FX DAILY % | FX YTD % | INDEX | STOCKS DAILY % | STOCKS YTD % |
Japan | JPY= | +0.12 | -12.12 | .N225 | 0.08 | 22.36 |
China | CNY=CFXS | -0.01 | -2.36 | .SSEC | -0.53 | -1.37 |
India | INR=IN | +0.05 | -0.28 | .NSEI | -0.08 | 11.84 |
Indonesia | IDR= | +0.18 | -5.23 | .JKSE | -0.06 | -0.33 |
Malaysia | MYR= | - | -2.49 | .KLSE | - | 10.75 |
Philippines | PHP= | +0.01 | -5.35 | .PSI | 0.66 | 1.33 |
S.Korea | KRW=KFTC | +0.18 | -6.59 | .KS11 | 0.07 | 7.87 |
Singapore | SGD= | +0.05 | -2.12 | .STI | -0.22 | 5.03 |
Taiwan | TWD=TP | +0.23 | -5.14 | .TWII | 1.67 | 33.57 |
Thailand | THB=TH | +0.12 | -6.13 | .SETI | 0.26 | -7.09 |
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
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
