SINGAPORE, Dec 5 ― Asian stocks slipped to three-week lows today while bonds and the dollar steadied as investors tempered expectations for cuts to US interest rates and waited on US jobs data.
An interest rate decision is due in Australia in the meantime, with traders all but certain the central bank will keep rates steady, leaving the focus on the outlook and tone.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.9 per cent in early trading. Gold hung on above US$2,000 (RM9,332) after a wild session yesterday, when it hit a record high in Asia before recoiling sharply lower.
Japan's Nikkei was dragged 1 per cent lower to a three-week trough, mostly thanks to falling chipmaking stocks.
Treasuries had come under a little pressure overnight as traders calibrated pretty aggressive pricing for US interest rate cuts. Two-year yields rose 9.1 basis points and were steady at 4.64 per cent in Asia trade.
Having been encouraged by a benign inflation report three weeks ago, futures imply about 125 bps of cuts in 2024.
US job openings data is due at 1530 GMT, and broader hiring figures, which had last month showed signs of a slowdown in the job market, will be published on Friday.
“While it's understandable the market has embraced the recent improvement in inflation and softer October labour market data, strong momentum in the economy remains,” ANZ analysts said in a note to clients. “We therefore expect that the (Fed), while encouraged by recent inflation improvements, will continue to adopt a hawkish policy stance.”
Hong Kong shares led declines around Asia, and the Hang Seng slumped to a fresh one-year low. At 16,470, the index is trading below its pre-Asian financial crisis high and is down almost 17 per cent in a year when global stocks are up 15 per cent.
In currency markets the dollar, which suffered its sharpest monthly decline for a year in November, rose slightly overnight.
The euro sat at US$1.0837 today, just above support at its 200-day moving average. The Australian and New Zealand dollars retreated from multi-month highs yesterday.
They were last steady, with the Aussie at US$0.6612 ahead of the interest rate decision at 0430 GMT. The focus is on whether the central bank will stick with what was interpreted as dovish guidance at its last meeting.
“Even if the RBA holds the line with respect to its guidance, the AUD’s retracement shouldn’t extend too much further with solid support likely to be found around its 200-day moving average (around) US$0.6580,” said Corpay strategist Peter Dragicevich.
Falling coal and gas prices pushed Australia's current account into deficit in the September quarter, data today showed. Core inflation in Tokyo slowed in November, leaving the yen steady at 147.22 per dollar.
In commodity trading, Brent crude futures traded broadly steady at US$78.31 a barrel, having fallen overnight on doubts that producers will make further cuts to output.
Chicago wheat Wv1 hit its highest level since late August after the US Department of Agriculture confirmed the largest one-off private sale to China in years. ― Reuters
