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☆ Asia stocks stall at one-month lows as slowing China cuts rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Industrial output and retail sales growth both slowed from a month earlier to a year-on-year pace of 3.7% and 2.5% respectively, missing expectations. J.P. Morgan analysts warned of a "vicious cycle" of real estate financing challenges and said trust defaults could wipe 0.3% to 0.4% from China's growth directly. The S&P 500 (.SPX) rose 0.6% overnight and futures rose 0.1% in Asia. European futures rose 0.4%. In bond markets, benchmark 10-year Treasury yields rose 2 basis points to 4.20% on Tuesday.

Persons: Androniki, HSI, Morgan, John Vail, Morgan Stanley, Tom Westbrook, Jamie Freed Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, China, SYDNEY, Reuters, Property, Nomura, HK, International Trust Co, Nikko Asset Management, U.S, Nvidia, Brent, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, Asia, Pacific, China’s, JAPAN, Australia

☆ China c.bank seen leaving policy loan rate unchanged on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Paramilitary police officers stand guard in front of the headquarters of the People's Bank of China, the central bank (PBOC), in Beijing, China September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoSHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, Aug 14 (Reuters) - China's central bank is expected to keep rates on its medium-term policy loans unchanged on Tuesday, a Reuters survey showed, despite fresh signs the economic recovery is losing momentum. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) last lowered the rate by 10 basis points to 2.65% in June. "We believe more pro-growth policies are warranted to support the economic growth, and further easing in monetary policy can be expected," analysts at BofA Global Research said. They expect a 15-basis-point cut in one-year loan prime rate (LPR) in total in the third quarter of the year.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Li Hongwei, Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, HSBC, BofA Global Research, July's, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, United States, Shanghai, Singapore

An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Shanghai, China July 6, 2018. REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Aug 11 (Reuters) - A growing number of healthcare companies in China are shelving their initial public offering (IPO) plans as its stock exchanges have stepped up scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry's business practices amid an escalating anti-corruption drive. Vaccine maker Shanghai Rongsheng Biotech Co terminated its IPO plan this week, after the company's high proportion of sales expenses drew attention from regulators. The company's sales expenses over the past three years amounted to nearly half of its revenue. Another banker said drugmakers are stepping on the brakes of their IPO plans due to the rising uncertainty.

Persons: Aly Song SHANGHAI, Rongsheng, drugmakers, Fujian Mindong, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Pharmaceuticals, Shanghai Rongsheng Biotech Co, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Rejuenation Pharmaceutical Co, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, HIT, National Health Commission, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Fujian, Rongsheng, Shenzhen, Singapore

☆ Asia stocks drop to month low as US CPI fails to enthuse
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The yen touched a six-week low of 144.89 per dollar in early trade, though volumes were thinned owing to a public holiday in Japan. Its stock markets were closed and Treasuries went untraded in the Asia session. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.7% with stocks in Hong Kong and China the biggest drag. Headline U.S. CPI was 0.2% last month, the same as a month earlier, and the details were encouraging - with core goods inflation slowing down and only rents proving stubbornly sticky. DOLLAR GAINSIn foreign exchange markets, choppy trade in the wake of the inflation data left the dollar on course for a weekly gain.

Persons: Issei Kato, Treasuries, Mary Daly, Andrew Lilley, Philip Lowe, Nozomu Ogawa, Sally Auld, JB, There's, HSI, Tom Westbrook, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: REUTERS, SYDNEY, Headline U.S, CPI, San Francisco Fed, Yahoo Finance, Daiwa, Markets, HK, Chevron, Brent, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, China, Sydney, New York, Australia

☆ Asia stocks slip as US CPI fails to enthuse; dollar up
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Passersby are reflected on an electric stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan April 18, 2023. The yen touched a six-week low of 144.89 per dollar in early trade on Friday, though volumes were thinned owing to a public holiday in Japan. Its stock markets were closed and Treasuries went untraded in the Asia session. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged 0.2% lower and headed for a 1% weekly loss. In stock markets, Chinese property stocks were taking a fresh beating on giant developer Country Garden (2007.HK), which is struggling with its debts, forecasting a $7.6 billion net loss in the first half.

Persons: Issei Kato, Treasuries, Mary Daly, Andrew Lilley, Sally Auld, JB, Tom Westbrook, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, U.S ., Headline U.S, CPI, San Francisco Fed, Yahoo Finance, U.S . Treasury, HK, Star Entertainment, Chevron, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Sydney, New York, Hong Kong, Alibaba, HK, New South Wales, Woodside, WDS.AX

☆ Singapore downgrades GDP outlook, avoids recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Chen Lin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Goss domestic product (GDP) expanded a seasonally-adjusted 0.1% quarter-on-quarter in April to June, slower than 0.3% growth seen in the government's advance estimate. Manufacturing will remain weak, dampened by a protracted downturn in electronics, while finance and insurance sectors will likely be subdued, MTI said. The ministry narrowed its GDP growth forecast to 0.5% to 1.5% this year from 0.5% to 2.5% previously. Analysts are expecting no change to monetary policy at MAS's October meeting, despite cooling momentum. MAS left its policy settings unchanged in April, after tightening five times in a row since October 2021, reflecting concerns over the city-state's growth outlook.

Persons: Feline, Goss, MTI, Yong Yik Wei, Brian Tan, Chen Lin, Tom Westbrook, Kanupriya Kapoor, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Port, REUTERS, MAS, Ministry of Trade and Industry, The Straits Times, Monetary Authority, Singapore's, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Port of Singapore, MTI, SINGAPORE, Singapore, Asia

☆ Morning Bid: Bonds droop as inflation cheer fades
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, August 1, 2023. Perhaps ask your friendly bond dealer, as traders in the world's deepest market quickly got over their excitement at steadying inflation, which held at 0.2% month-on-month. Yields went up along the curve, even if markets took the risk of another rate hike next month down a little. Yet the U.S. dollar held gains made overnight and took the yen back near levels that prompted intervention last year. Stocks there were back under pressure during Friday, with Alibaba (9988.HK) handing back gains on its solid result and property stocks sliding.

Persons: Tom Westbrook, Stocks, Treasuries, Joe Biden, Philip Lowe, Michelle Bullock, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, U.S ., HK, Chevron, PPI, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Asia, untraded, Tokyo, China, HK, Australia, Woodside, WDS.AX, Europe, joblessness

☆ 13 Hollywood production companies making brand films that streamers like Netflix and Apple want to buy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

said Marc Gilbar, who runs the brand division at Imagine Entertainment. Some are also looking to brand films to offset some of the revenue they're losing in the dual Hollywood strikes. (Brand films are often unscripted and thus aren't governed by the Hollywood unions.) They also see brand work being a positive for below-the-line workers who are idled by the work stoppage. Led by EVP Kate Oppenheim, Tribeca Studios' projects have included "We Could be King" (ESPN2) for Dick's Sporting Goods and P&G's Queen Collective series (BET).

Persons: Ben Silverman, Issa Rae's Hoorae, Kevin Hart's Hartbeat, Julian Jacobs, we've, Marc Gilbar, Samuel L, Jackson, Emma Stone, Zac Ryder, Olivia Wilde, Laurene Powell Jobs, Caitlin McGinty, It's, James Gay, Rees, Paul Martin, Kevin Hart's, Hart, Hartbeat, Brian Price, Chase Sapphire, Procter, Reese Witherspoon, Zoe Fairbourn, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Ron Howard's, Bryce Dallas Howard, Gilbar, Rocco DiSpirito, General Mills, Rupert Maconik's Saville, Werner Herzog, Barry Levinson, Sugar23, Oscar, Michael Sugar, Trevor Noah's, he's, Kennedy, Matt Rotondo helms, Sugar, Mike Beck, Alexa Conway, Trevor Noah, Kate Oppenheim, HBO Max, Paul McCartney, Mary McCartney Ventureland, Kerstin Emhoff, Paul Hunter, John Battsek, Stacy's Pita Chips, Will, Jada Pinkett, REI, Gargi Organizations: Hollywood, Brands, Mattel, Netflix, Apple, UTA, Imagine Entertainment, Producers, Adobe, IBM, Anonymous, HP, Afghan Girls National Soccer Team, Showtime, Pepsi Boardwalk Pictures, Relativity Media, Super, Pepsi, REI, Unilever, Marriott, Surf League, Major League Soccer, Sam's, Gamble, Weinstein Co, Hulu, Imagine, Paramount, Saville Productions, Disney, Time Studios, Procter & Gamble, Anheuser, Busch, InBev, CAA, Studios, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, Tribeca Studios, Dick's Sporting Goods, HBO, CNN, Mobile, Stacy's, Everest, Vice Studios, Westbrook Media, Meta, Logitech, Samsung Locations: Hollywood, Subway, Magnolia

A gentle downtrend in foreign direct investment gave way to a steep drop last quarter and inflows to China slammed to their lowest since records began 25 years ago, raising the prospect that the long-term trend is turning. Sources have told Reuters the Biden administration is likely to adopt new outbound investment restrictions on China in the coming weeks. Japan, the U.S. and Europe have already restricted the sale of high-tech chipmaking tools to Chinese companies while China has hit back by throttling exports of raw materials. To be sure, investment flows often fluctuate and many firms aren't leaving China completely or aren't leaving at all. "A lot of our clients are worried about their exposure to China as a sole country of supply."

Persons: Carlos Barria, Deng Xiaoping, Logan Wright, Biden, John Ramig, Buchalter, Daniel Seeff, Cardigan, Chi Lo, Lee Smith, Baker Donelson, Samuel Shen, Tom Westbrook, Winni Zhou, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Corporate, China Markets, China's, Administration of Foreign Exchange, Investors, Reuters, Oxford Economics, Ministry of Commerce, Management, Thomson Locations: Pudong, Shanghai, SHANGHAI, SYDNEY, China, Japan, U.S, Europe, Haining, Peru, Hong Kong, Baker, Singapore

Over the two trading days since, the market has tried to second-guess the pace at which the BOJ wants yields to move, while the BOJ has run special bond-buying operations to cap yields. "There is only a very, very small possibility of a sudden or very steep rise in JGB yields, because too many people want to buy the bonds. The maximum yield investors demanded was 0.6%, just 10 basis points (bps) above the previous policy cap. The promise of an extra 10-20 bps of JGB yield means 10-year JGBs hedged from dollars into yen can yield upwards of 6%. As per BOJ data, lifers and pension funds held roughly 26% of a 1,132 trillion yen ($7.93 trillion) JGB market at the end of 2019.

Persons: It's, we've, Ales Koutny, Rong Ren Goh, BOJ, Tomoya Masanao, Masanao, Rae Wee, Tom Westbrook, Harry Robertson, Alun John, Vidya Ranganathan, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Bank of Japan, JGBs, Vanguard Asset Management, Eastspring Investments, Foreigners, U.S, Nippon Life, Asia Pacific, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, TOKYO, United States, Europe, Singapore, JGBs, Belgian, Japan, PIMCO, Sydney, London

HONG KONG/NEW YORK, July 31 (Reuters) - For all the excitement whipped up in China's markets by the Politburo last week, foreign investors say policymakers' words will have to be matched by substantive action to clean up an ailing property sector before confidence recovers. "The question is what resources they will deploy, because China is still very focused on de-leveraging and preventing financial risks." Absolutely, and urgently," said Qi Wang, the chief investment officer (CIO) of MegaTrust Investment (HK), a boutique China fund manager specializing in domestic Chinese A-shares. Mark Dong, general manager of Minority Asset Management, based in Hong Kong, has reduced his exposure to the property sector. The safest bets in the sector, he said, had come down to state-owned companies such as China Resources Land (1109.HK) and Poly Property (0119.HK).

Persons: Tara Hariharan, Qi Wang, Wang, Mark Dong, Bo Zhuang, Loomis, Weng, Rob Hinchliffe, Hinchliffe, Mei Leong, Xie Yu, Georgina Lee, Shen Yiming, Jason Xue, Ankur Banerjee, Tom Westbrook, Vidya Ranganathan, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: HONG KONG, MegaTrust Investment, Asset Management, Loomis Sayles Investments, Eastspring Investments, PineBridge Investments, China Evergrande Group, HK, China Resources, Poly Property, Thomson Locations: HONG, China, Hong Kong, Loomis Sayles Investments Asia, Shanghai, New York, Singapore

☆ Stocks slip, yen surges on speculation of Bank of Japan policy tweak
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The BOJ sets policy later in the session. The Nikkei newspaper reported, without citing sources, that policymakers will discuss tweaking the yield control policy to allow 10-year government bond yields above a 0.5% cap in some circumstances. "I think the idea is even a tiny tweak is a big deal for the BOJ. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) opened 1.4% lower though bank shares (.IBNKS.T) surged to an eight-year high on the prospect of rising interest income at lenders. Further strong U.S. data, with better-than-expected second-quarter growth figures out overnight drove up longer-end Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar.

Persons: Imre Speizer, We'll, Kristina Clifton, Christine Lagarde, Lagarde, Jerome Powell, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Nikkei, ECB, SYDNEY, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Westpac, Japan's Nikkei, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Federal Reserve, Fed, U.S ., Nasdaq, Intel, Brent, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Asia, Pacific, Japan

☆ Morning Bid: Earnings, China hold spotlight ahead of big rates decisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Tom WestbrookEarnings and hope for a turning in China's markets are the prelude to this week's big central bank decisions. The corporate performance and outlook risk disappointing markets that are increasingly priced for a "soft-landing" slowdown in both growth and inflation. In the Asia session investors cheered pledges of support in the readout from an earlier-than-expected Politburo meeting in China -- though not too loudly. The Eurozone bank lending survey is also out on Tuesday and can give a view on the health of borrowing ahead of Fed and European Central Bank meetings, which are both expected to deliver rate hikes. The yen was steady in Asia as investors weigh whether the Bank of Japan will tweak policy on Friday.

Persons: Tom Westbrook, Robert Half, Archer, Daniel Midlands, Morgan Stanley, Dalian Wanda, Sam Holmes Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Visa, General Electric, Dow, chipmaker Texas, Unilever, Shanghai, Traders, Dalian, Fed, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, EssilorLuxottica, Texas Instruments, Verizon, General Motors, ADM, Spotify, Thomson Locations: United States, London, Paris, Asia, China, Hong Kong

☆ Dollar clings to gains with central banks in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Laura Matthews | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] U.S. Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. The euro was down 0.49% at $1.1069 while sterling was last trading at $1.2823, down 0.25% on the day, kicking off a busy week for central bank meetings with investors expecting rate hikes in Europe and the United States. The Fed concludes a meeting on Wednesday, followed by the European Central Bank (ECB) a day later and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Friday, as well as earnings from many heavyweight companies. The BOJ is the most likely of the three central banks to throw up a market-moving surprise, traders say, with a tweak to its yield curve control policy seen as a possibility. "There's a deep sense of unease around what might come next from the Bank of Japan," said ForexLive's Button.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Adam Button, John Velis, ForexLive's Button, bitcoin, Laura Matthews, Alun John, Tom Westbrook, David Holmes, Jacqueline Wong, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, ForexLive, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Investors, ECB, Fed, BNY Mellon, Reuters, Thomson Locations: York, Europe, Toronto, U.S, United States, Americas, New York

[1/2] U.S. Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. July's reading showed the sixth straight month of growth but was restrained by softening conditions in the service sector. The euro slid after PMI data showed euro zone business activity shrank much more than expected in July. The pound also dropped after British business activity data, but its move was less dramatic. There is plenty more for investors to watch this week - the Federal Reserve concludes a meeting on Wednesday, followed by the European Central Bank (ECB) a day later and the Bank of Japan on Friday, as well as earnings from many heavyweight companies.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joe Manimbo, bitcoin, Laura Matthews, Tom Westbrook, David Holmes, Jacqueline Wong, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, P Global, Washington D.C, ECB, PMI, Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Investors, Fed, Reuters, Thomson Locations: York, LONDON, U.S, Europe, Washington, United States, New York

"The major thing that we see now is onshore-traded Country Garden bonds going down," he said. Country Garden is a giant with thousands of projects in nearly 300 Chinese cities. Li Changjiang, the president of Country Garden Services, sold 3.2 million shares of the company last week, reducing his stake to 0.11% from 0.21%. They also cut its price target to HK$0.9 from HK$2.3 and that of Country Garden Services Holdings to HK$6.7 from HK$22. "Distressed Chinese property developers’ bond restructurings can buy them some room," Fitch Ratings said in a report on Monday.

Persons: Longfor, Wanda, Yao Yu, Morgan Stanley, Morgan, Li Changjiang, Fitch, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Georgina Lee, Marc Jones, Kim Coghill, Jamie Freed, Barbara Lewis, Christina Fincher Organizations: HK, Dalian, Garden, Country Garden Services, Garden Holdings, Garden Services Holdings, China, Greenland Holdings, Ocean Group, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SYDNEY, China, Hong Kong, Evergrande, Cayman Islands, Shanghai, Sydney, London

☆ China developer Country Garden shares extend losses on debt worries; others fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, July 24 (Reuters) - Shares and bonds in Chinese property developer Country Garden (2007.HK) and its property service arm Country Garden Services Holdings (6098.HK) tumbled on Monday, extending losses from the previous week on debt concerns. More liquidity troubles surfaced in China's property sector last week, sending down shares and bonds of the country's biggest developers. Country Garden Services Holdings shares slumped more than 10% on Monday, while Country Garden fell more than 5%, with both down to their lowest level since last November. Two onshore-traded bonds of Country Garden , plunged roughly 20% each, and some of its offshore-listed bonds also declined. Shares in other developers, including Longfor Group (0960.HK), China Overseas Land & Investment (0688.HK) and Sunac China Holdings (1918.HK), also slumped on Monday.

Persons: Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill, Jamie Freed Organizations: HK, Garden Services Holdings, Country Garden Services Holdings, Mainland Properties, CSI, Longfor, China Overseas Land & Investment, Sunac China Holdings, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, Shanghai, Singapore

The European common currency fell 0.4% to $1.1083 , skidding after a quiet Asian session on PMI data that showed euro zone business activity shrank much more than expected in July. The pound dropped after British activity data, but less dramatically and was last down 0.1% at $1.2839. The yen strengthened with the dollar down 0.47% at 141.2 yen , and the euro down 0.7% at 156.6 yen. The Swiss franc was steady at 0.8648 per dollar, and the dollar index was up 0.1% at 101.2. Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by David Holmes and Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Simon Harvey, Bob Savage, Tom Westbrook, David Holmes, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: SYDNEY, PMI, Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Investors, ECB, Fed, U.S, BNY Mellon, The Bank of Japan, Reuters, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Swiss, Thomson Locations: LONDON, Europe, United States, Ukraine

☆ Morning Bid: Barbie hits the box office
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A fan takes a photo of a Barbie doll at the world premiere of the film "Barbie" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 9, 2023. American Airlines (AAL.O) and Philip Morris (PM.N) are reporting. Market sources told Reuters that China's state banks were out in the Asia morning selling dollars offshore. Mattel says the Barbie movie is expected to boost global sales of Barbie dolls, which declined last year from record growth during the pandemic. Reuters GraphicsKey developments that could influence markets on Thursday:Data: U.S. jobless claims, housing startsEarnings: Philip Morris, American AirlinesReporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Tom Westbrook Barbie's, Elon Musk, Ansell, Philip Morris, Barbie, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, American Airlines, Communist Party, Traders, Reuters, Aussie, Mattel, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Asia, China, Xinhua, Hong Kong, Greenland

☆ China keeps lending benchmarks unchanged; economic weakness tests policymakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE, July 20 (Reuters) - China left its lending benchmarks unchanged on Thursday, after the central bank stood pat on a key policy rate earlier this week even as signs of a faltering economic recovery called for more stimulus. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was kept at 3.55%, while the five-year LPR was unchanged at 4.20%. The steady LPR fixings come as the People's Bank of China (PBOC) rolled over maturing medium-term policy loans and kept the interest rate unchanged earlier this week. The medium-term lending facility (MLF) rate serves as a guide to the LPR and markets mostly use the MLF rate as a precursor to any changes to the lending benchmarks. Most new and outstanding loans in China are based on the one-year LPR, while the five-year rate influences the pricing of mortgages.

Persons: Winni Zhou, Tom Westbrook, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: United, People's Bank of China, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, United States

☆ Wall Street on ice ahead of big tech earnings, UK shines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Naomi Rovnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tech stocks have been boosted by exuberance about artificial intelligence as well as hopes the Federal Reserve will soon end the aggressive interest rate rises that bludgeoned valuations of more speculative businesses in 2022. Owning big tech is also the "most crowded" trade in global markets, Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett warned in a note to clients this week. This was just the latest downside surprise on prices for a major economy after more than 18 months of central banks cranking interest rates higher. Sterling lost 0.96% to trade at $1.291 as market bets that the Bank of England would raise interest rates as high as 6%, from the current 5%, faded out. London's blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) added 1.6% and the domestically focused FTSE 250 (.FTMC) rose 3.2%, on track for its best daily performance since February 2.

Persons: Sterling, Michael Hartnett, Hartnett, BofA, Stuart Kaiser, Eren Osman, Arbuthnot Latham, BoE, Samuel Tombs, Kenneth Broux, Germany's, Tom Westbrook, Bernadette Baum, Kim Coghill, Chizu Organizations: Stock, Wall, Tesla, Netflix, Nasdaq, Tech, Reserve, Bank of America, Citi, Bank of England, Macroeconomics, Sterling, . Federal, Societe Generale, Thomson Locations: London, Sydney

Headline British consumer price inflation fell to 7.9% year-on-year in June, against expectations for 8.2%, in the latest downside surprise for a major economy after more than 18 months of central banks cranking interest rates higher. The BoE now had "the green light" for a 25 basis point (bps) rate rise next month, Pantheon Macroeconomics chief UK economist Samuel Tombs said, after markets had previously priced a further 50 bps hike. "Profit taking in sterling should not be a surprise," added Kenneth Broux, head of FX and rates corporate research at Societe Generale in London. The 10-year yield, a benchmark for debt costs in the Euro-zone, fell 5 bps to 2.35% . Futures trading indicated Wall Street's S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 share indices would open steady later in the day.

Persons: Sterling, BoE, Samuel Tombs, Kenneth Broux, Germany's, Klaas, Chris Weston, Sam Holmes, Bernadette Baum Organizations: LONDON, Headline, Sterling, . Federal, Bank of England, Macroeconomics, Societe Generale, European Central Bank, ECB, Pepperstone, Nasdaq, Bank of, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, London ., disinflation, Europe, Melbourne

"For China, it is 'bad news is good news' at the moment," said Jun Bei Liu, portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners in Sydney. Even before the latest disappointing growth data, a slew of soft economic indicators had shown China's recovery was falling short, slamming the brakes on nascent stock market rallies. Foreign money has been leaving, with worries over China's cyber-security crackdowns and Sino-U.S. flaps over chips and rare metals adding to growth concerns. REVIEWING CHINAGoldman Sachs analysts led by Kinger Lau also believe a 'tactical market recovery' thesis is compelling, and project a 15% 12-month return for the CSI300. "We are conservative about the extent of the policy support down the road," said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief economist, Asia Pacific at Natixis.

Persons: Jun Bei Liu, Liu, Marcella Chow, CHINA Goldman Sachs, Kinger Lau, it's, Mike Kelly, Alicia Garcia Herrero, Eugenia Victorino, SEB, Victorino, Ting Lu, Jason Xue, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill Organizations: Tribeca Investment Partners, CSI, Morgan Asset Management, CHINA, JPMorgan, PineBridge Investments, Nomura, Thomson Locations: China, Sydney, U.S, Asia, Natixis, Shanghai

Added to valuations from December, major REITs, which build, own and operate property assets, have marked down office portfolios by roughly a tenth or less over the past year. Dexus shares have fallen 28% since 2022, while Charter Hall has nearly halved. "Buyers aren't willing to pay the price from the last valuations," said Winston Sammut, an investment manager at Sequoia Financial Group and a former executive at Charter Hall. Dexus and Charter Hall did not respond to requests for comment. "We're looking to see whether the fund managers, the Charter Halls, the Centurias, the Dexus are also getting large redemptions."

Persons: Tom Westbrook, Buyers, Winston Sammut, it's, REITs, Centuria, Grant Berry, Dexus, Ping, Blackstone, Amy Pham, Sammut, Australia's, Hostplus, that's, Pham, Lewis Jackson, Scott Murdoch, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Charter Hall, Sequoia Financial Group, Charter, Reuters, SG Hiscock, Company, Blackstone, Sydney, Pengana Capital, Thomson Locations: Epping, Sydney, Australia, SYDNEY, Canberra, United States

☆ Asia stocks split as US-China outlooks diverge
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Overnight the S&P 500 (.SPX) rose 0.7% to hit a three-month high, with results propelling bank shares. Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Bank of America (BAC.N) and Bank of New York Mellon (BK.N) shares rose sharply on strong results and an upbeat outlook overnight. Microsoft (MSFT.O) shares rose 4% - adding $100 billion in market value - after announcing charges for artificial intelligence features in its office software. British inflation data due at 0600 GMT is the next major calendar item and traders are expecting a fall to a still-uncomfortable 8.2% annual pace. "While annual headline inflation fell sharply, which is helpful for inflation expectations, the details suggest persistence in non-tradables inflation."

Persons: Seng, SYDNEY, Dovish, Tapas Strickland, Morgan Stanley, Klaas Knot, Brian Daingerfield, Treasuries, Brent, Lincoln Organizations: Companies, Microsoft, U.S, European Central Bank, New Zealand, Japan's Nikkei, Headline U.S, National Australia Bank, Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, NatWest Markets, Bank of, Fed, ECB, ANZ, Thomson Locations: China, Japan, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, South Korea, Sydney, Atlanta, U.S, Europe, New York, New Zealand, Bank of England

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