Asian stocks mostly fell Tuesday on concern about feeble Chinese trade figures, Japans recession and weaker-than-expected German industrial growth. KEEPING SCORE: Tokyos Nikkei 225 index fell 0.3 percent to 17,873.18 while Chinas Shanghai Composite Index added 1.2 percent to 3,055.78. Hong Kongs Hang Seng fell 1 percent to 23,794.40 and Seouls Kospi fell 0.3 percent to 1,971.93. Sydney, Jakarta and Manila also fell. CHINESE TRADE: Customs data showed November export growth was weaker than forecast and imports unexpectedly contracted. That suggested economic growth might be cooling further after hitting a five-year low in the latest quarter. Forecasters say a boost to growth from a surprise interest rate cut in November might not show up until as late as the second quarter of next year. JAPANS RECESSION: Revised figures for the July-September quarter showed its economy shrank 1.9 percent, a bigger drop than previously estimated. ANALYSTS TAKE: The boost in sentiment from an upbeat U.S. jobs report faded as concerns about growth, especially in emerging countries, resurfaced, said Mizuho Bank in a report. GERMAN WEAKNESS: Industrial production in Europes biggest economy grew by a weaker-than-expected 0.2 percent in October. Germany is barely growing, expanding by just 0.1 percent in the third quarter. CHINESE STOCKS: Prices of some major Chinese issues including state-owned banks and oil companies, fell as the market took a break from a buying frenzy that has pushed up the Shanghai benchmark by 48 percent since June. Sinopec Ltd., Asias biggest oil refiner by volume, was off 3.2 percent, and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. was off 2.6 percent. WALL STREET: The six-month-old decline in global crude prices dragged down shares in energy companies and raised concerns about headwinds for U.S. growth. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.6 percent to 17,852.48 and the broader Standard & Poors 500 was off 0.7 percent at 2,060.31. The Nasdaq composite shed 0.8 percent to 4,740.69. ENERGY: U.S. benchmark crude shed another 30 cents to $62.75 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract plunged by $2.79 on Monday to close at $63.05. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 38 cents to $65.81. CURRENCY: The dollar declined to 120.73 yen from Mondays 120.87 yen. The euro slipped to $1.2300 from $1.2307.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 06:50:15 +0000
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