Asian markets fall as virus variant clouds near-term outlook

HONG KONG – Concerns about soaring virus cases and new lockdowns sent equities and oil tumbling again today, while fears over a new strain in Britain and stuttering Brexit trade talks kept the pound under pressure.

The mutated virus, which is said to be 70% more transmissible, has forced numerous countries around the world to shut their borders to the UK and has overshadowed the roll-out of vaccines and news that US lawmakers have agreed on a new stimulus plan.

Analysts said investors were taking the opportunity to cash in recent gains as they wound down for the festive break, with most saying 2021 will see a surge across markets as the economy opens up after people are inoculated.

However, they pointed out that long-term optimism is being kept grounded by concerns about the immediate impact of the latest wave of infections.

"What we've seen out of the UK is a scary thing for the markets, which could incentivise some profit-taking," Steven Wieting, at Citigroup Private Bank, told Bloomberg TV. But the vaccination drive should be a "game-changer", he added.

Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore and Jakarta all fell more than 1%. Tokyo shed 1%, while Sydney lost 1.1% as investors grew increasingly worried about a spike in new infections in the city that has led to the imposition of containment measures.

Taipei also lost more than 1% after news that Taiwan had seen its first locally transmitted infection since April.

There were also losses in Hong Kong, Mumbai and Manila, though Wellington and Bangkok rose.

The losses extended yesterday's sell-off and a retreat on Wall Street.

In early European trade, Paris and Frankfurt rose but London dipped.

Pound struggles 

Axi strategist Stephen Innes sounded a note of warning for early next year.

"You will read a lot of after-the-fact analysis suggesting (yesterday) was a holiday-exaggerated sell-off," he said in a note. 

"To a large degree, that might be the case on some overbought positions, like oil and short dollar.

"However, ignoring these early warning signals and not bracing yourself for a challenging start to 2021 is flat-out dumb. Indeed, this could only be the tip of a reflationary washout.

"The risk is growing for significantly extended lockdowns in several countries. There is a gap to be bridged between now and when experts expect herd immunity – in the middle of the second quarter at the earliest."

Lawmakers in Washington today finally passed a bill setting aside around US$900 billion (RM3.6 trillion) in support measures for the ailing US economy, bringing an end to months of haggling. The package will now go to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign this week.

But analysts said the move had been priced into markets.

"The new... bill will help some workers and businesses get through the winter but it will do little to accelerate the arrival of an economic recovery," said David Kelly, at JP Morgan Asset Management.

On currency markets, the pound was slightly higher than yesterday's lows, which were fuelled by concerns over the new virus strain and a lack of progress in Brexit talks.

But with just under two weeks until a deadline for an agreement, the two sides remain stuck on access to fishing grounds and there are worries Prime Minister Boris Johnson could walk away empty-handed.

There are hopes that his offer of a compromise on the fishing issue could break the deadlock, though French Europe Minister Clement Beaune warned: "There have been successive proposals from the UK, sometimes on fishing, that don't respond to European priorities and demands." 

He added: "Difficulties remain."

Key figures around 0810 GMT 

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0% at 26,436.39 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.7% at 26,119.25 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.9% at 3,356.78 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2% at 6,401.41

Pound/dollar: DOWN at US$1.3427 from US$1.3436 at 2145 GMT

Euro/pound: DOWN at 90.97 pence from 91.00 pence

Euro/dollar: DOWN at US$1.2218 from US$1.2229

Dollar/yen: UP at 103.44 yen from 103.32 yen 

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.0% at US$47.02 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.9% at US$49.97 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.1% at 30,216.45 (close). – AFP, December 22, 2020