Asian Shares Rattled by Deutsche Bank
September 30 2016 - 12:30AM
Dow Jones News
Asian shares traded lower Friday as enthusiasm over possible
production curbs by major oil producers receded and worries over
Deutsche Bank's troubles rattled financial stocks.
The Nikkei Stock Average was lower by 1.5% with Australia's
S&P/ASX 200 was down 0.9%. Korea's Kospi was lower by 0.9% as
well. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.4% and the Shanghai
Composite Index was 0.1% higher.
Oil prices were down in early Asian trade as doubts grew about a
plan to limit production among members of the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries. Traders noted that details of the
plan were scarce.
"A real agreement is not possible so they do a fake agreement.
It means nothing but it is better than nothing," said Fereidun
Fesharaki, chairman of consultancy FGE in a note. Analysts said
that almost all members of the OPEC were already at their maximum
producing capacity, with Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil
producer, continuing high production at low prices to keep market
share. High production levels are expected to be maintained and the
proposed production cuts to be decided in November are likely to be
marginal.
Nymex light, sweet crude futures were last down 7 cents at
$47.76 a barrel and Brent crude, the international oil benchmark,
was down 8 cents at $49.16 a barrel.
Meanwhile, worries over Deutsche Bank's troubles expanded
following reports that some clients—among them several large hedge
funds—have pulled billions of dollars from the bank amid concerns
about its stability and their exposure.
Deutsche Bank's New York-traded American depositary receipts
closed down 6.7% Thursday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.1% or nearly 200 points,
to 18143.45, and the S&P 500 closed at 2151.13, down 0.9%, its
biggest drop since Sept. 13.
Weakness in Asian shares, primarily in banking are "very much
related to what we could see in U.S. markets and issues with the
banking sector in Europe," said Frank Benzimra, head of Asia equity
strategy at Socié té Gé né rale. "The risk premium is rising on
global concern over the financial system."
In Japan, financial stocks traded lower with Sumitomo Mitsui
Trust off 1.9% and Nomura trading down 2%.
Also weighing on the Nikkei was data showing Japan's August
consumer prices fell 0.5% compared with a year ago, down for the
sixth straight month, defeating the Bank of Japan's attempt to push
up inflation and growth. The August core Consumer Price Index,
which excludes fresh food prices but includes energy, also fell
0.5% from a year earlier, the same pace as in July.
Meanwhile, the Japanese yen hasn't served its usual role as a
safe-haven amid the Deutsche Bank fears as weak inflation at home
fueled selling in the currency, countering safe-haven bids. The
currency was about unchanged against the U.S. dollar. Other Asian
currencies were also stable to the greenback with the exception of
the Malaysian ringgit which was down 0.5%.
In Australia, where financial stocks make up for half the top 10
stocks by index weight, Macquarie Group Ltd. was lower by 2.2%.
Hong Kong's HSI was also dragged down by banking stocks. HSBC
was down 1% and Bank of East Asia was off by 1.5%.
Stocks of Chinese manufacturers were also lower despite slightly
improved indications of the sector's prospects.
The Caixin China manufacturing purchasing managers index, a
private gauge of nationwide factory activity, edged up in
September, pointing to modest expansion, Caixin Media Co. and
research firm Markit said Friday. The index rose to 50.1 in
September from 50.0 in August, and stayed out of contractionary
territory—below 50—for a third straight month. Suzhou Electrical
Apparatus was down 8.8%, Shandong Geo-Mineral fell 5.9% and Fujian
Start Group trading lost 5.1%
Gold was 0.1% higher on expectations that the coming political
uncertainty in the U.S. could lead to demand for the yellow
metal.
Liyan Qi, Jenny Hsu and Takashi Nakamichi contributed to this
article.
Write to Kenan Machado at kenan.machado@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 30, 2016 00:15 ET (04:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Bank East Asia (PK) (USOTC:BKEAY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2024 to Jan 2025
Bank East Asia (PK) (USOTC:BKEAY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2024 to Jan 2025