Today’s agenda:
Major indexes in Asia finished mixed yesterday. China’s Shanghai Composite was down 0.1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.3%. This morning, Asian shares are up following the rally in Wall Street, driven by tech stocks. Tesla, Facebook and Twitter gained, and shares of utility companies were pulled back.
In energy markets, Brent crude futures, the benchmark in global oil markets, ticked down 0.6% to $84.33 a barrel.
China has said it will issue dollar-denominated, multi-tranche bonds in tenors of three, five, 10 and 30 years. The issuance is expected to raise about $4 billion. Such bonds are typically in high demand from global investors due to their scarcity and high yields. – John Xavier
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11:35 A.M.
U.S. reviews sanctions policy
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released the results of a broad review of the economic and financial sanctions that it administers and enforces, and issued recommendations to preserve and enhance their effectiveness.
Treasury’s review found that while sanctions remain an essential and effective policy tool, they also face new challenges including rising risks from new payments systems, the growing use of digital assets like cryptocurrencies, and cybercriminals.
The Treasury warned that countries reducing the use of the U.S. dollar and exposure to the U.S. financial system could erode the effectiveness of sanctions.
10:59 A.M.
Global power cost surge hits Singapore
Singapore is hit by the global energy crunch caused by rising natural gas prices and power scarcities in various parts of the world. The city-state relies on gas for its domestic power generation.
Three energy suppliers in the island state are exiting the market, and at least two others have stopped taking new clients. Retailers are unable to pass the high wholesale energy cost on to their customers.
Singapore’s energy regulator Energy Market Authority said it was working with retailers facing challenges from volatile electricity prices, which rose to record high levels this month, and said there will be no disruption to their customers’ electricity supply.
10:40 A.M.
Oil prices fall
Oil prices ticked down after sky-high rally on weak economic data from the world’s top two oil consumers – the U.S. and China.
Brent crude fell 0.5% to $83.90 a barrel, while U.S. WTI slid 0.4% to $82.11 a barrel. Brent crude contract is still up nearly 7% this month, and WTI has risen nearly 10% this month.
Rising U. S. oil output is also keeping a lid on prices. Shale production in the U.S. is expected to increase next month, according to an official report.
9:20 A.M.
Sensex crosses 62,000-mark
Indian indices opened on a strong note with Sensex crossing the 62,000-mark and Nifty going beyond 18,600 for the first time. The BSE Sensex hit a new all-time high of 62,159.78, after opening nearly 400 points higher than its previous close at 62,156.48. Similarly, NSE Nifty touched a fresh record high of 18,604.45 after opening at 18,602.35, up 125.30 points.
9:18 A.M.
Asian markets update
Asian shares rose following a tech-driven rally in the U.S. market, and a rebound in Chinese markets after weak economic data raised investor concerns in the country.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.76%, and Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.65%. South Korea’s Kospi opened at 3,022.23, slightly higher than its previous close.
Chinese blue chips reversed early losses to rise 0.62%, a day after they fell 1.1% when the country reported its gross domestic product growth slowed in the third quarter. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 1.34%.
In U.S., the S&P 500 rose 0.34% to 4,486.46, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.84% to 15,021.81, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.10% to 35,258.61.
—- Edited by John Xavier
(With inputs from Reuters, PTI and other news agencies.)
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