Dec 4, 2012

Asia - Asian markets slip on US data, fiscal cliff fears

Follow Me on Pinterest
HONG KONG: Asian markets eased Tuesday following losses on Wall Street fuelled by weak US manufacturing data and fears over gridlock in Washington on agreeing a plan to avert the fiscal cliff.

The euro remained well bought after hitting a six-week high against the dollar in New York as Greece began a debt-buyback programme and eurozone finance ministers nodded through a bailout for Spain's troubled banks.

Tokyo fell 0.10 per cent, Hong Kong was 0.15 per cent off, Sydney eased 0.29 per cent, Shanghai was 0.26 per cent lower and Seoul lost 0.11 per cent.

US shares turned down on Monday after the Institute for Supply Management said its index on manufacturing activity for November showed contraction after two months of expansion.

The purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 49.5, below the 50 breakeven level, from 51.7 in October.

Businesses the ISM surveyed blamed the slow global economy and uncertainty from the fiscal cliff battle in Washington.

It followed positive manufacturing numbers across Asia, while Europe also saw a marginal improvement.

The Dow slid 0.46 per cent, the S&P 500 fell 0.47 per cent and the Nasdaq shed 0.27 per cent.

US politicians have until the end of the month to agree a deal on cutting the country's huge deficit and avoid the fiscal cliff of huge tax hikes and spending cuts widely expected to tip the economy into recession if they take effect.

However, there has been little progress, with Republican and Democrats blaming each other for the stalemate.

On Monday the Republicans put forward a proposal to the White House that calls for $800 billion in increased tax revenue, half of what President Barack Obama has proposed, while it also includes huge cuts to Medicare and other programmes. The plan was immediately rejected.

In Europe Greece began its programme to buy back privately held debt at a big discount, the underlying condition for it to receive its next tranche of bailout funds from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Eurozone finance ministers also gave the green light to a 39.5 billion euros recapitalisation of Spain's banks next week.

A preliminary plan for a bailout for Cyprus worth 17 billion euros was also drawn up.

The euro changed hands at $1.3061 and 107.28 yen in early Asian trade, compared with $1.3051 and 107.36 yen in New York late Monday. In New York, the European currency hit $1.3076, its highest level in almost six weeks.

The dollar was slightly lower at 82.14 yen from 82.24 yen.

Oil prices eased, with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January, falling 18 cents to $88.91 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for January down 14 cents at $110.78.

Gold was at $1,712.80 at 0220 GMT compared with $1,717.75 late Monday.

- AFP/ck


Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Health care and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN 's area. We are currently changing the platform of www.yourvietnamexpert.com, if any request, please, contact directly Dr Christian SIODMAK, business strategist, owner and CEO of SBC at christian.siodmak@gmail.com. Many thanks.

No comments:

Post a Comment