Tuesday, 5 September 2017

Asian stocks mixed as geopolitical tensions remain high

Posted by Valentine at 10:06 Labels:

Asian stock indexes were mixed on Tuesday, as geopolitical tensions in the Korean peninsula continued to pressure market sentiment after the US stated North Korea is looking for war.

Australia ASX -1.30 -0.02% 5,762.50 06:30 GMT - CLOSED
Shanghai Comp +6.89 +0.20% 3,386.47 06:30 GMT - OPEN
Hang Seng Index +11.45 +0.04% 27,751.71 06:30 GMT - OPEN
Nikkei 225 -122.44 -0.63% 19,385.81 06:30 GMT - CLOSED
TSEC 50 Index +47.97 +0.45% 10,617.84 06:30 GMT - CLOSED

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is “begging for war”.

“Enough is enough. War is never something the United States wants. We don't want it now. But our country's patience is not unlimited,' she added.

“The United States will look at every country that does business with North Korea as a country, that is giving aid to their reckless and dangerous nuclear intentions,” Haley explained in line with President Donald Trump’s idea to stop trade with nations tied to Pyongyang.

On Sunday, North Korea tested an hydrogen bomb, marking the sixth launch of such kind. Pyongyang authorities said the bomb, which was placed at the top of a long range intercontinental missile, was a total success.

In response to this action, US Defense Secretary James Mattis assured there would be a “massive military response” if North Korea threatens the United States or its allies.

Safe-haven assets such as gold benefited from strong demand. The yellow metal rose to 11-month peak near $1,336 a troy ounce. The Japanese yen was also higher, trading as high as 109.70 against the American currency on Monday.

While the risk-off mode played an essential role on Monday’s downturn, it was not the only factor contributing to it. Markets experienced low trading volumes as US markets were closed due to the Labor Day holiday. Meanwhile, tropical storm Harvey continued to weigh on crude.

Earlier in the session, China’s Caixin services PMI index for August came in at 52.7, comfortably above a forecasted 51.5. The services sector advanced at its fastest pace in three months.

Key economic events for Tuesday, 5 September 2017:

01:45 GMT  China’s Caixin Services PMI (Aug) Actual: 52.7
07:55 GMT  German Services PMI (Aug) Forecast: 53.4
08:00 GMT  EU Markit Composite PMI (Aug) Forecast: 55.8
08:00 GMT  EU Services PMI (Aug) Forecast: 54.9
08:30 GMT  UK Services PMI (Aug) Forecast: 53.5
09:00 GMT  EU Retail Sales (MoM) (Jul) Forecast: -0.2%
12:00 GMT  FOMC Member Brainard Speaks  
14:00 GMT  US Factory Orders (MoM) (Jul) Forecast: -3.2%
17:10 GMT  FOMC Member Kashkari Speaks  
22:05 GMT  FOMC Member Kaplan Speaks  

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