MARKETS ASIA/Mixed – Significantly reduced initial losses

By Steffen Gosenheimer

TOKYO/HONG KONG (Dow Jones)–Sentiment on the East Asian stock markets will continue to be dominated on Friday by the war in Ukraine with its consequences for energy prices and the global economy, as well as fears of inflation. In addition, there are weak specifications from Wall Street. Slight support is once again coming from oil prices, which continue to fall after the sharp setback the previous day. The trigger was that the USA tapped into its strategic oil reserves for six months in order to ensure at least some relaxation.

It is not surprising that in China, according to the official figures, the purchasing managers’ index calculated privately by Caixin also fell into the area indicative of contraction. This was already expected due to the tough lockdown measures in China, for example the closure of the whole of Shanghai in two phases.

Overall, the trend in this mixed situation is inconsistent. The leading index on the stock exchange in Sydney is just up, while Shanghai is trending friendly – ​​trading there will be paused on Monday and Tuesday of the coming week due to public holidays.

In Hong Kong, where there is only a pause on Tuesday due to public holidays, in Seoul and in Tokyo the indices are going down moderately, although the losses have at least decreased significantly over the course of the year. The Nikkei index dropped 0.4 percent to 27,709 points.

In South Korea, the increased energy prices are reflected in a trade balance that has now slipped into deficit. In addition, the country’s exports slowed in March.

Toshiba shares are up 6.3 percent in Tokyo as major shareholder Bain Capital considers a bid for the company.

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Index (stock market) last +/- % % YTD end

S&P/ASX 200 (Sydney) 7,503.20 +0.0% +0.8% 07:00

Nikkei-225 (Tokyo) 27,708.75 -0.4% -2.7% 08:00

Kospi (Seoul) 2,743.23 -0.5% -8.1% 08:00

Shanghai Comp. 3,272.40 +0.6% -10.1% 09:00

Hang Seng (Hongk.) 21,837.48 -0.7% -5.0% 10:00

Straits-Times (Sing.) 3,410.24 +0.1% +10.1% 11:00

KLCI (Malaysia) 1,593.72 +0.4% +1.0% 11:00

FOREX last +/- % 00:00 Thu, 9:23 % YTD

EUR/USD 1.1064 -0.0% 1.1068 1.1168 -2.7%

EUR/JPY 135.58 +0.7% 134.68 135.63 +3.6%

EUR/GBP 0.8426 +0.0% 0.8424 0.8497 +0.3%

GBP/USD 1.3132 -0.1% 1.3138 1.3144 -3.0%

USD/JPY 122.57 +0.7% 121.69 121.44 +6.5%

USD/KRW 1,215.75 +0.1% 1,215.13 1,211.25 +2.3%

USD/CNY 6.3513 +0.2% 6.3400 6.3433 -0.1%

USD/CNH 6.3575 +0.1% 6.3543 6.3514 +0.1%

USD/HKD 7.8322 -0.0% 7.8323 7.8298 +0.5%

AUD/USD 0.7485 +0.0% 0.7485 0.7483 +3.1%

NZD/USD 0.6926 -0.1% 0.6934 0.6951 +1.5%

Bitcoin

BTC/USD 44,713.80 -2.3% 45,780.54 47,131.90 -3.3%

ROHL last VT-Settl. +/- % +/- USD % YTD

WTI/Nymex 99.81 100.28 -0.5% -0.47 +35.0%

METALS last day before +/- % +/- USD % YTD

Gold (Spot) 1,937.07 1,937.50 -0.0% -0.44 +5.9%

Silver (Spot) 24.82 24.80 +0.1% +0.02 +6.5%

Platinum (Spot) 996.40 986.90 +1.0% +9.50 +2.7%

Copper Future 4.72 4.75 -0.7% -0.03 +5.9%

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DJG/DJN/gos/ros

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 01, 2022 00:48 ET (04:48 GMT)