Asian shares dipped on Friday but were on track for weekly gains, while the dollar was poised for a losing week, with investors disappointed that president-elect Donald Trump had failed to elaborate on stimulus plans at a recent news conference.
CMC Markets chief market analyst Michael Hewson expects European bourses to post opening gains. However, investors had started to price in the potential that the "reflation scenario may well come up short", Mr Hewson said, as they reassess what to expect from Mr Trump in the coming weeks.
Investors largely shrugged off trade data from China. December exports fell by a more-than-expected 6.1 per cent from a year earlier, while imports beat forecasts slightly, government data released on Friday showed.
As the world’s largest trading nation, China could come under pressure from protectionist measures this year if Mr Trump follows through on his campaign pledges to brand it a currency manipulator and impose heavy tariffs on its imports.
“The trend of anti-globalisation is becoming increasingly evident, and China is the biggest victim of this trend,” customs spokesman Huang Songping told reporters. “We will pay close attention to foreign trade policy after Trump is inaugurated president,” he added. Mr Trump will be sworn in on January 20th.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.1 per cent, after rising to its highest levels since late October in the previous session. It was up 1.9 per cent for the week. China’s benchmark CSI300 index was slightly lower in afternoon trading, while the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.4 per cent.
South Korean shares shed 0.5 per cent, roiled by an influence-peddling scandal that could topple President Park Geun-hye. Samsung leader Jay Y Lee left the South Korean special prosecutor's office early on Friday, more than 22 hours after arriving for questioning on bribery suspicions.
On Wall Street, major indexes finished Thursday lower, chilled by Mr Trump’s failure to address economic policy plans at his first news conference since winning the November 8th election.
Japan's Nikkei stock index finished up 0.8 per cent, although it still ended the week down 0.9 per cent.
Many investors remained hopeful that markets would get a lift from a wave of financial deregulation that could follow Mr Trump's inauguration, including a rollback of some of the Dodd-Frank financial reform measures that Congress enacted after the financial crisis and bank bailouts. "Market weakness at the end of the week may continue, but anticipation of a Dodd-Frank repeal possibility spurs an optimistic outlook," said Hiroki Allen, chief representative of Superfund Japan in Tokyo.
Still, this week’s stronger yen dented demand for Japanese shares. The dollar was flat at ¥114.75 after skidding as low as ¥113.75 on Thursday, its lowest since December 8th. It was on track to shed 1.8 per cent for the week, with some investors saying the yen’s rise has room to run and others suggesting it might be close to a top.
"It is unlikely that the yen strengthens further against the dollar," Yukio Ishizuki, FX strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo. "The US treasuries yield is expected to rise considering rising US inflation expectations."
The yields on 10-year and 30-year Treasury notes had touched their lowest levels since November on Thursday before retaking some lost ground, and were modestly higher in Asia. The 10-year yield stood at 2.367 per cent, compared with Thursday’s US close of 2.361 per cent.
The dollar wallowed around five-week lows against a currency basket, even as the dollar index edged up slightly to 101.37. It was down 0.8 per cent for the week. The dollar index had scaled 14-year peaks this month, on speculation that Mr Trump's policies would spur growth and inflation, and prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at a faster pace than previously expected.
The euro inched 0.1 per cent higher to $1.0628, well above last week’s 14-year low of $1.0340 and poised to gain 0.9 per cent for the week.
Crude oil prices extended gains, bolstered by the weaker dollar as well as news that Saudi Arabia has cut oil output to its lowest in almost two years and plans further reductions. Brent crude rose 0.1 per cent to $56.04 a barrel, while US crude was up slightly at $53.02.
Spot gold slipped 0.1 per cent to $1,195.16 an ounce, as investors locked in gains on its overnight surge to seven-week highs above $1,200. London copper reversed earlier gains and slipped 0.5 per cent to $5,819 a tonne.
