Banks, Realty Stocks Drag Asia Lower

123jump.com Staff
18 Sep, 2007
New York City

Asian markets fell across the region led by 2% loss in Japan. Korea, Taiwan, and Australia fell as well. India bucked th trend and jumped 1% higher. Banks in Japan and China fell sharply on the worries related to the U.S. mortgage market. Property stocks in Hong Kong fell ahead of the rate decision in the U.S. Rising oil price lifted select energy stocks in China and Hong Kong. Australia lowered its wheat harvest estimate by 31%. China Merchants Bank completes its $8 billion IPO.

[R]8:00AM New York, 8:00PM Hong Kong – Asian stocks fell on rising oil price and declining banks.[/R]

Asian markets fell dragged lower by financial and real estate stocks. Japan led the region with a loss of 2% followed by declines of 1.8% in Korea, 1.5% in Taiwan, and 1.2% in Australia. India bucked the trend and jumped 1.1% and the led the region’s gainers. Singapore edged a fraction higher.

In Hong Kong trading energy stocks closed higher on record oil price. PetroChina gained 0.9% and Cnooc added 3.3%. Ahead of rate decision in the U.S. property stocks in Hong Kong fell. Wharf Holdings Ltd led the sector with a loss of 4% followed by 3% decline in Henderson Land, and 2.5% loss in Hang Lung properties.

In Shanghai trading banks led the decliners. China Merchants Bank fell 2% and ICBC edged 0.21% lower. Separately Bloomberg News is reporting that the bank has raised Rmb58 billion or $7.8 billion on the sale of 9 billion shares at Rmb6.45, top end of its offer price. The second largest bank is offering stocks in Shanghai to take advantage of investors’ appetite. The bank offering was oversubscribed 40 times.

In Sydney trading National Australian Bank led the decliners with a loss of 3%. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics lowered its production target for the upcoming harvesting season for wheat, canola, and barely by 31% to 25.6 million tons from June estimate of 37 million tons. Wheat production target was lowered to 15.5 million tons.

The Reserve Bank of Australia governor suggested that the local interest rate environment may toughen for borrowers. The comments put bond market on the edge and Australian dollar fell. Australian dollar dropped to U.S. 83.20 cents and 10-year bond yields on the bonds fell to 5.93%

[R]6:00AM New York, 7:00PM Tokyo - Financial stocks led the decline in Tokyo. Demand for services and retail sales fell in July as typhoons and declining disposable incomes take their toll. Yen firms as investors reduced holdings on high-yielding assets funded by loans from Japan.[/R]

Japanese stocks traded in the red, dragged down by financial stocks on resurgent fears that the credit market turmoil will affect global financial markets. The drop in demand for retail services and sales for July also dampened market sentiment. Of the 225 Nikkei stocks, 14 gained, 197 declined while 14 traded unchanged. Of the index stocks, 63 shed more than 2%.

In Tokyo trading the benchmark Nikkei 225 plunged 2.2% or 325.62 to 15,801.80. Financial stocks led the decline coupled by waning investor sentiment after The Ministry of Trade announced that demand for retail services had slipped for the month of July on bad weather and falling disposable incomes. Statistics from the trade ministry showed the tertiary index, which measures the amount households and businesses spend on services slumped 0.5% from June.

Notwithstanding the 9-year low jobless rate, falling disposable incomes caused by wages that have been falling every month this year, and slipped the most in 3 years in July, took their toll on sales. Retail sales for the month of July plunged 2.2%. Household spending fell for the first time this year. Consumer confidence and consumer spending fell to a 2-year low as the Topix index declined 3.9% in July. Since then the index has plummeted by 10% and sentiment is bearish over the outlook period.

Investors also turned to Japanese government bonds on strengthening yen and expectations that the Bank of Japan will keep a hold on the interest rates. The yield on the benchmark 10-year bond was down around half a basis point at about 1.540%. Fears that the turmoil on the credit markets will persist led the yen higher against the major currencies. The yen firmed 0.7% against the New Zealand dollar to 80.82 and against the pound by 0.4% for the third day to 228.63. Against the euro and the dollar, the yen also rose to 159.31 and 114.96 respectively.

Of the Nikkei 225 index shares, financials led the downtrend as investor’s confidence in banks fell, prompted by a run on deposits at UK mortgage lender Northern Rock and warning by the Bank of America. Mizuho Financial, Japan’s second biggest lender slipped 7.61% followed by Mitsubishi UFG edging down 7.34%. Commercial bank Resona Holdings also slipped by 6.47%. Ferokawa Electrical and Mitsui Trust Holdings anchored the five decliners at 6.39% and 6.36 respectively.

Canon led the advancers in the index, climbing 2.17%. Mitsumi Electrical edged up 40 or 2.06%. Sumitomo Chemicals and Shionogi soared 1.94% and 0.84% in that order. Matsushita Electric Work, fifth largest gainer in the index with a rise of 0.68%.

Inpex failed to buck the downtrend despite the record increase of oil to more than $80 per barrel, 24-year record. The oil company shed 0.88% at the close of trade.

Gold also touched a 16-month high at $728.90 per ounce on the New York Merchantile Exchange.

Japanese consumer lender Credia, which is 21% owned by JCB, filed for bankruptcy after is faced difficulty in raising capital and repaying debt amounting to 56.5 billion yen.