Uncertainty around US stimulus puts pressure on Asian stocks

Tokyo/Boston — Asian stocks dipped on Wednesday on the growing uncertainty over whether the US legislators would agree on an additional round of big fiscal stimulus to support an economy still struggling with the novel coronavirus.

The hope of vaccine development, however, prompted some investors to reduce safe-haven assets such as gold and government bonds, and to buy back battered stocks of companies hit hardest by the virus.

The mixed sentiment has led to choppy trade in Asia with the index of ex-Japan Asia-Pacific shares shedding 0.76% while Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.2%.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 snapped a seven-day winning streak after coming within reach of the record peak hit in February just before the global outbreak of the Covid-19.

The declines came as political gridlock between the Republican White House and congressional Democrats over coronavirus relief continued for a fourth day, with each party blaming the other for intransigence.

Barring a bipartisan deal, the US economy could be left with measures US President Donald Trump called for on Saturday through executive orders to bypass Congress.

“We have enormous uncertainty. It appears it’s getting harder for both sides to compromise as the election is nearing … Trump’s proposals would be smaller than markets have expected. There’s question over whether they are viable, too,” said Junpei Tanaka, strategist at Pictet.

The US election campaigns look set to gather steam after Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden selected Senator Kamala Harris as his choice for vice-president.

E-mini futures for S&P 500 were little changed after the news.

The 10-year US treasuries yield dipped two basis points to 0.636% in Asia after hitting a one-month of 0.661% in previous US trade.

On top of hedge selling ahead of the largest-ever 10-year note auction later in the day, bonds have lost some of their safe-haven allure also on the rising hope of vaccines against Covid-19.

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country to grant regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing.

While Moscow’s decision raised some eyebrows, the news lifted hope some of the vaccines currently in development would become available earlier than expected.

Investors bought back hospitality industries stocks and other value-oriented shares, leading the old-economy centric Dow Jones to outperform high-flying Nasdaq.

Globally, MSCI Value has risen 1.5% while MSCI Growth lost 1.3% so far this week.

“As countries around the world seek to support the economy without harsh measures like lockdowns, investors are reviewing if they can keep value shares underweight,” said Naoya Oshikubo, senior economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management.

The most dramatic move took place in gold, which suffered its biggest daily fall in seven years on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it fell another 1% to $1,891.

Still, Michael Hsueh, commodities and forex strategist at Deutsche Bank in New York said, there is a good chance this week’s decline will attract fresh buyers.

“In today’s instance, the vaccine news is likely not sufficient to change the macro narrative, insofar as it is seen as a medical mistake in advancing too quickly through testing procedures,” he said, referring to the Russian vaccine.

Major currencies were little changed, with the euro almost flat at $1.1728 and the yen also moving little at ¥107.27 to the dollar.

The New Zealand dollar slipped 0.4% after the country locked down Auckland following four new cases of Covid-19 and the country’s central bank took a dovish stance.

Oil prices were little changed, with Brent up 0.2% at $44.60 a barrel. US crude was up 0.1% at $41.66.

Reuters