HK stocks inch up amid bond, oil and rates jitters
Oil prices and bond yields were higher in an uncomfortable combination for Asian equities on Tuesday, as investors braced for an interest rate hike in Australia and an era where short term borrowing costs settle at their highest for years. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index opened up six points, or 0.02 percent, at 24,648 but plunged into the red soon after and was 131 points down at one…
Asian equities experienced mixed openings on Tuesday due to increasing bond yields and oil prices, which caused some anxiety among investors. The benchmark Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong opened slightly higher but quickly turned negative, dropping 131 points at one point. The tech index experienced a decline of 9 points, and the China enterprises index rose by 10 points.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index started the day down by 7 points, while the Shenzhen Component Index fell 19 points. The ChiNext Index also slipped by 3 points. In the US, the 10-year Treasury yield reached a 19-year high, with a near 50 basis points increase over the past month, signaling a potential shift in the Federal Reserve's rate-hiking trajectory.
Higher yields put pressure on government, corporate, and household budgets, impacting global markets. Despite a $150 billion Nvidia stock buyback, the Nasdaq fell by 0.9 percent. Fixed income expert Angus Hui from Fullerton Fund Management in Singapore emphasized that the coming environment would see higher interest expenses and a strain on sovereign finances, making bonds less attractive should the global economy slow down.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices surged, with Brent futures reaching $106.60 per barrel. The technology sector in China faced difficulties as stocks were affected by US plans to ban Chinese components from data centers, pushing the CSI300 index to a one-year low. Foreign exchange markets remained relatively stable, with the US dollar poised for a monthly gain.
Written by urgent.news from RTHK News - Finance's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
