Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
Asian Stocks Mostly Down On Trade Growth Fears, Oil Price In Focus

Asian Stocks Mostly Down On Trade Growth Fears, Oil Price In Focus

David Cottle, Analyst

Share:

What's on this page

Asian Stocks Talking Points:

  • Most Asian stock markets struggled with old worries about trade and growth
  • Oil prices were to the fore after Tuesday’s sharp US-time falls
  • The US Dollar slipped back as the Pound and Euro edged hopefully upward

Find out what retail foreign exchange investors make of your favorite currency’s chances right now at the DailyFX Sentiment Page

Asia Pacific stocks were mostly lower Wednesday as investors fretted about lower global growth in the face of plunging oil prices.

US crude futures endured their worst one-day loss in more than three years on Tuesday, falling by around 7% in spite of Saudi Arabian pledges to reduce supply this year. Markets are clearly still worried that the market will remain oversupplied even with this cut. Chinese shares had been down for much of the day but the Shanghai Composite was flat in the middle of its afternoon session, with the Hang Seng down 0.4%. Australia’s ASX 200 had shed 1.7%, with the Kospi off by 0.2%. The Nikkei 225 stood out in the green, if not very far, rising 0.1%.

However the Tokyo benchmark remains below its most recently dominant uptrend line and, while it does, the lows of late October look more likely to be seen again than this year’s peak, made earlier last month.

October Lows In Sight- Nikkei 225, Daily Chart.

The day’s regional data came mainly from China where October retail sales underwhelmed market expectations while industrial production topped them by a whisker. Beijing’s historically modest 6.5% growth target still looks eminently achievable but much of course hangs on the outcome of trade talks with the US. Theiur outcome remains in doubt.

In the foreign exchange space, the Euro and Sterling recovered a little as markets looked hopefully to the chance of a Brexit deal. There seems small chance that any so-far trailed agreement will get through the UK Parliament, however, so both currencies could still face a bumpy ride ahead. For the moment their gains saw the US Dollar retreat a little from its recent 16-month peaks. That said the greenback retains a solid underpinning based on the Federal Reserve’s position as clearly the most aggressive tightener of monetary policy.

Gold prices edged up as the Dollar retraced while crude oil prices continued to fall,

There is plenty of important economic data still to come on Wednesday, including official inflation figures from both the US and the UK. German Gross Domestic Product numbers are on tap too, along with the Eurozone’s own growth stats. US weekly and hourly earnings will be in focus as well.

Resources for Traders

Whether you’re new to trading or an old hand DailyFX has plenty of resources to help you. There’s our trading sentiment indicator which shows you live how IG clients are positioned right now. We also hold educational and analytical webinars and offer trading guides, with one specifically aimed at those new to foreign exchange markets. There’s also a Bitcoin guide. Be sure to make the most of them all. They were written by our seasoned trading experts and they’re all free.

--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research

Follow David on Twitter @DavidCottleFX or use the Comments section below to get in touch!

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES