HONG KONG – Asian markets mostly fell today following a soft lead from Wall Street, hit by profit-taking and lingering inflation worries.
With few catalysts to drive business, and Japan and China on holiday for most of the week, traders were easing back from their recent buying frenzy while there are also concerns the more than year-long rally may have gone a little too far.
Investment giant Warren Buffett instilled some unease after saying at the weekend that he expected the US economy was in “super high gear” thanks to massive Federal Reserve and government support but that it would fan inflation.
He said “people have money in their pocket and they’re paying higher prices” and there was more inflation than expected six months ago.
His comments revived concerns that the explosive recovery, vaccinations, and easing of lockdowns would push up prices to the extent that the Fed would have to ease up on its market-supportive, ultra-loose monetary policies.
Those worries continue to hover over trading floors despite Fed boss Jerome Powell’s repeated insistence that they will not tighten policy until they are happy that unemployment has been tamed and inflation is running consistently hot for some time.
However, Dallas Fed president Robert Kaplan broke ranks with Powell on Friday as he said tapering could soon be considered.
“We’re now at a point where I’m observing excesses and imbalances in financial markets,” he said.
“I’m very attentive to that, and that’s why I do think at the earliest opportunity I think will be appropriate for us to start talking about adjusting those purchases.”
National Australia Bank’s Ray Attrill said in a note: “The main overarching rationale remains on the pace of the recovery”, which he sees as being much faster than he previously expected and now forecasts unemployment at 4% by year’s end.
“If that scenario plays out, it is also conceivable rate rises may start earlier, with Kaplan stating the Fed may need to raise rates next year.”
In early Asian trade, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei were all down more than 1%, while there were also losses in Seoul, Jakarta, and Wellington, though Sydney and Manila edged up.
Traders will be keenly watching the release of United States jobs data this week, which will provide the latest snapshot of the world’s top economy and its recovery.
Oil prices fell further, having shed around 2% on Friday on concerns that the frightening coronavirus surge in India will hit demand in the huge economy.
Key figures around 0240 GMT
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.4% at 28,321.29
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday
Shanghai – Composite: Closed for a holiday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.2024 from $1.2021 at 2100 GMT Friday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3821 from $1.3814
Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.98 pence from 87.02 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 109.49 yen from 109.33 yen
West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.2% at $63.45 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.3% at $66.57 per barrel
New York – Dow: DOWN 0.5% at 33,874.85 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.1% at 6,969.81 (close) – AFP, May 3, 2021
