Shares in Asia advanced before a report that’s expected to show a slowing in US inflation, which will help shape the outlook for the Federal Reserve’s next steps. A move by China’s sovereign wealth fund to buy shares of the country’s largest banks fueled further optimism.
MSCI’s Asian equity index was on course for a sixth day of gains as stock benchmarks climbed around 1% in Japan and South Korea. The Hang Seng Index jumped as much as 2.2% after China’s state-owned Central Huijin Investment Ltd. increased its stake in the nation’s biggest banks for the first time since 2015. Oil fell for a third day, erasing all of the surge on Monday that followed Hamas’ attack on Israel.
“Central Huijin’s modest yet symbolic investments are very likely aimed at supporting share prices, which has already led to a positive market response,” Redmond Wong, a market strategist at Saxo Capital Markets in Hong Kong, wrote in a note. “This move, reminiscent of its actions during the 2015 Chinese equity market turmoil, signifies the government’s desire to maintain market stability.”
Traders’ focus is now turning to Thursday’s US consumer price data, which economists are forecasting will show a further easing in inflation. Fed minutes published Wednesday showed officials agreed last month policy should remain restrictive for some time, while noting the risks of overtightening now had to be balanced against keeping inflation on a downward path.
US CPI is forecast to have slowed to an annual rate of 3.6% in September from 3.7% the previous month, according to a Bloomberg survey. Data published Wednesday showed prices paid to producers rose by more than forecast in September, bolstered by higher energy costs.
Futures for US stocks extended their climbs after the S&P 500 rose for a fourth day Wednesday, its longest winning streak since August on the back of the Fed officials’ comments.
Fed officials are taking a more patient approach now that rates are at or near their peak, Boston Fed President Susan Collins said Wednesday. Her Atlanta counterpart Raphael Bostic said the central bank doesn’t need to keep tightening unless inflation’s descent starts to stall.
The dollar edged lower against most of its Group-of-10 peers, while the yen held near 149 to the greenback. Treasury 10-year yields were little changed at 4.57% after dropping to a two-week low of 4.54% Wednesday.
West Texas Intermediate steadied at around $83 a barrel after slumping Wednesday following a New York Times report that Iran may have been surprised by the assault. Gold was little changed.
Meanwhile, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone — part of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s conglomerate slammed by a US shortseller earlier this year — is ending its offer to buy back its 2024 dollar bonds after receiving more bids than it targeted. The company received notes with a principal amount of $213 million as of its Oct. 11 initial deadline, according to a statement.
Key events this week:
- UK industrial production, Thursday
- US initial jobless claims, CPI, Thursday
- European Central Bank publishes account of September policy meeting, Thursday
- Fed’s Raphael Bostic speaks, Thursday
- China CPI, PPI, trade, Friday
- Eurozone industrial production, Friday
- US University of Michigan consumer sentiment, Friday
- Citigroup, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, BlackRock results as the quarterly earnings season kicks off, Friday
- G20 finance ministers and central bankers meet as part of IMF gathering, Friday
- ECB President Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speak on IMF panel, Friday
- Fed’s Patrick Harker speaks, Friday
Some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
- S&P 500 futures rose 0.3% as of 1:29 p.m. Tokyo time. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%
- Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.3%. The Nasdaq 100 rose 0.7%
- Japan’s Topix rose 1.4%
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.9%
- China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.8%
- Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose Index 0.2%
Currencies
- The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed
- The euro was little changed at $1.0629
- The Japanese yen was little changed at 149.15 per dollar
- The offshore yuan was little changed at 7.2993 per dollar
- The Australian dollar was little changed at $0.6420
Cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin rose 0.5% to $26,840.52
- Ether was little changed at $1,562.69
Bonds
- The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced one basis point to 4.57%
- Japan’s 10-year yield declined two basis points to 0.750%
- Australia’s 10-year yield declined six basis points to 4.37%
Commodities
- West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.5% to $83.08 a barrel
- Spot gold rose 0.2% to $1,877.42 an ounce
This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.
--With assistance from Winnie Hsu.
