HONG KONG – Asian markets today fell as investors struggle to break out of a long-running cycle of volatility, with optimism over economic recovery playing off against fears of inflation, while oil prices extend their losses on reports of a possible breakthrough in Iran nuclear talks.
Bitcoin also took another beating after China’s central bank said cryptocurrencies cannot be used for payments, adding to the unit’s woes after recent comments from tycoon Elon Musk and Tesla.
After a broadly healthy start to the week, regional traders went into selling mode early today following a retreat on Wall Street, where technology firms were again the whipping boys, with Apple, Amazon and Facebook all losing more than 1%.
Focus is back on the impact that an expected burst of economic activity this year will have on inflation, which many warn could force central banks – particularly the Federal Reserve – to wind back their ultra-easy monetary policies, including possibly hiking interest rates.
This is despite repeated pledges by bank officials that they will not move for the foreseeable future.
Traders will closely read through the minutes of the Fed’s April meeting when they are released later in the day, hoping for an idea about the board’s thoughts on its response to rising prices.
“The key to inflation will be if we see enough wage growth as the labour market recovery continues to bring back many low-paying jobs,” said Oanda’s Edward Moya.
“Bank of America’s announcement to raise the minimum wage to US$25 (RM103) an hour by 2025 shows that the need to lure talent might keep delivering upward pressure on wages.”
Still, he added: “This wage growth trend could have some momentum as corporate America will have to provide more incentives to fill vacancies. Even if the outlook for wage growth accelerates higher throughout the summer, the Fed will stand by their belief that inflation will be transitory.”
Bitcoin battered again
Ahead of the minutes, Asian markets are well in the red, with worries about new Covid-19 infections in several countries adding to the selling pressure.
Tokyo and Sydney fell more than 1%, while Wellington was not far behind. Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta were all down. Hong Kong and Seoul were closed.
Energy firms are among those leading the losses as oil prices sank from recent peaks following reports that there has been progress in talks to bring the United States and Iran back into the 2015 nuclear deal.
“A positive outcome here would pave the way for increased oil supply from Iran – the best-case scenario (for oil production, not prices) would be an increase in four million barrels a day from Iran within three months,” said National Australia Bank analyst David de Garis.
Both main contracts lost around 1%, extending yesterday’s steep falls.
Bitcoin tumbled about 10% to US$41,000 after the People’s Bank of China said digital currencies cannot be used in markets as they are not real, adding that firms are not allowed to use the units to price their goods or services.
“It’s no surprise to me, as Chinese capital controls can be challenged by cryptocurrency purchases in the country and transfers out of the country,” said Adam Reynolds of Saxo Markets.
“So, avoiding use of them in the country is essential to maintaining capital controls.”
Bitcoin has had a torrid time of late, taking a hit after Musk appeared to suggest Tesla is planning to sell its huge holdings of the unit, which came days after the electric carmaker said it will halt using it in transactions because of environmental concerns.
The currency is down more than a third from its record high of close to US$65,000 last month. – AFP, May 19, 2021
