[SINGAPORE] Hong Kong shares rose to a three-year peak and led Asian markets higher on Tuesday (Mar 18), as investors turn positive on the outlook for China, cheering recent data and promises to further support consumption in the world’s second-largest economy.
The Hang Seng was up 2 per cent and its 23 per cent year-to-date gain is easily the largest of any major market.
The upbeat mood is likely to continue in Europe, with futures pointing to a strong start. Euro Stoxx 50 futures gained 0.35 per cent, while Dax futures rose 0.43 per cent.
All eyes during European hours will be on Germany as its lower house of parliament gears up to vote on a massive surge in borrowing that could boost Europe’s largest economy and stimulate growth across the region.
On Monday, the OECD forecast US President Donald Trump’s higher tariffs will drag down growth in Canada, Mexico and the US while driving up inflation.
Yet China has been an unlikely winner of Trump’s burst of tariffs and cuts to government spending in his first two months in office, as fears of a US slowdown turn investors abroad.
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“Momentum and sentiment are shifting now as well in a positive way,” said Nick Ferres, chief investment officer at Vantage Point Asset Management in Singapore.
Short sellers rushed to cover bets against the New Zealand dollar, which is sensitive to Chinese consumers via food exports, sending it to a three-month high of US$0.58295. The kiwi was last 0.13 per cent lower at US$0.58145.
The China-sensitive Australian dollar hit a one-month high just shy of US$0.64 in early trading before easing to trade 0.27 per cent lower at US$0.6368. China’s yuan hovered near its strongest levels of the year so far.
On Sunday, China announced childcare subsidies and a “special action plan” to boost domestic consumption and on Monday, data showed retail sales growth quickened in January-February.
Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit the US in the not-too-distant future, further raising expectations that some sort of breakthrough deal could reduce tariffs.
The Hong Kong dollar is parked in the strong half of its trading band against the dollar and Hong Kong interbank rates have been falling lately, pointing to the weight of money pouring into the financial hub.
Mainland shares made more modest gains, while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks rose 1 per cent with markets in Seoul, Sydney and Taipei also higher.
Japan’s Nikkei bounced 1.5 per cent, putting it on course for its sharpest rise in three weeks.
The outlier in the region was Indonesia, with Jakarta shares plunging about 7 per cent to a 3½-year low on worries over tit-for-tat tariffs as well as the country’s fiscal plans and growth outlook. REUTERS
