January 13, 2025 05:10 GMT
EQUITIES: Asian Equites Fall Following US Jobs
EQUITIES
Asian markets declined as stronger-than-expected US jobs data dampened hopes for further Fed rate cuts, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index down 1.1% and benchmarks in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea leading losses. Chinese stocks extended declines despite record-high exports, with investors awaiting more pro-consumption policies. Brent crude rose above $81 a barrel after aggressive US sanctions on Russia, adding inflationary pressure for central banks.
- India's Nifty 50 and Sensex slumped to multi-month lows, pressured by surging oil prices, rising Treasury yields, and weak earnings growth, with financial services stocks driving the decline.
- GS strategists remain bullish on Chinese stocks, predicting a 20% rise by year-end despite recent market turmoil. They expect sentiment and liquidity to improve by late Q1 2025 due to better tariff and policy clarity. Goldman recommends government consumption proxies, exporters benefiting from a weaker yuan, and select tech, infrastructure, online retail, media, and healthcare stocks, while upgrading consumer services to overweight.
- Apple's Chinese suppliers saw their shares drop after analyst Ming-Chi Kuo projected 2025 iPhone shipments at 220-225m units, below Wall Street's 240m consensus. Apple shares fell 2.4% on Friday following the report. Key suppliers, including AAC Technologies (-3.8%), Hon Hai (-4.1%), Quanta (-3.7%), and GoerTek (-2.6%), experienced declines here in Asia
- Traders now expect limited Fed rate cuts in 2025, with fed fund futures now pricing in just a single rate cut around the Oct/Dec meetings the markets remain cautious ahead ahead of key US inflation data this week.
- APAC markets: Japanese equities closed, South Korea's KOSPI is -1%, KOSDAQ -1.20%, Taiwan's TAIEX -2.10%, Hong Kong's HSI -1.15%, China's CSI 300 -0.45%, Australia's ASX200 -1.30%, New Zealand's NZX50 -0.55%
273 words