Markets snap week-long rally as US inflation dents rate hopes

Markets snap week-long rally as US inflation dents rate hopes

Traders are keeping tabs on movements in the yen as it weakens towards 150 per dollar, raising the possibility of intervention by Japanese authorities
Traders are keeping tabs on movements in the yen as it weakens towards 150 per dollar, raising the possibility of intervention by Japanese authorities. Photo: Behrouz MEHRI / AFP
Source: AFP

Equities went into reverse Friday, snapping a week-long rally, as a forecast-topping US inflation report revived fears the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates again before the end of the year.

Markets have enjoyed a fruitful few days since last week's jobs report suggested the world's top economy remained resilient but was not too strong to warrant more central bank tightening to tame prices.

The positivity pushed stocks higher as Treasury yields have come down after a succession of Fed officials lined up to suggest there was little need to lift borrowing costs from their two-decade highs.

However, the mood was darkened Thursday by data showing the consumer prices index rose slightly more than expected in September, highlighting the tough work still to do in the battle against inflation.

Still, the reading caused a spike in Treasury yields -- exacerbated by a weak bond auction -- and sent stocks tumbling in New York, though they pared some of those losses by the end of the day.

Read also

Mysterious rise in US Treasury yields perturbs markets

"Much of the 'good' work done in the past week in the form of bull flattening of the US yield curve has been undone by the latest US CPI report, which shows in particular still uncomfortably high core service sector inflation," said National Australia Bank's Ray Attrill.

While observers said the reading was unlikely to sway the Fed in its decision-making ahead of its next policy meeting in November, it shook traders out of their comfort zone.

Officials are expected to hold on rates next month, though there is much debate on their plans for December.

In early Asian trade, Hong Kong and Shanghai were well down, having enjoyed a strong run this week on hopes for more government support for the economy and struggling mainland markets.

Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Sydney, Taipei and Wellington were also in the red.

Read also

US consumer inflation holds steady in September

Currency traders were keeping a close eye on the yen as the dollar pushed towards 150 after the CPI reading, with Japanese officials warning they were watching for any extreme moves and primed for intervention.

Analysts said traders were worried about selling the yen too far in case Tokyo did step in to support the unit.

"Close attention is being paid to the 150 level," Yuta Suzuki, of MUFG Bank, said. "Investors probably don't want to buy dollar-yen above 150 primarily because of concerns about intervention."

Key figures around 0230 GMT

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 32,356.76 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.5 percent at 17,969.00

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 3,088.72

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0542 from $1.0534 on Thursday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2199 from $1.2177

Dollar/yen: UP at 149.82 yen from 149.79 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.42 pence from 86.48 pence

Read also

Asian markets press on with rally, China fund boosts optimism

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.8 percent at $83.54 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.5 percent at $86.46 per barrel

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.5 percent at 33,631.14 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 7,644.78 (close)

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.