Asian markets mixed after Fed cuts rates, China posts disappointing data

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Asian markets were mixed in early trading Thursday, following disappointing economic data from China and another interest-rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which suggested no more would come for a while.

Speaking after the Fed’s two-day meeting, Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday it would take a “material change” to justify another rate cut, indicating that the central bank will wait and see how the economy reacts to the third rate cut this year. Still, many analysts still expect further cuts in 2020 if the U.S. economy slows down as expected.

Economic data from China on Thursday showed weaker-than-expected growth in both factory activity and nonmanufacturing activity. China’s manufacturing purchasing managers index dropped to 49.3 in October from 49.8 the month before, marking an eight-month low and the sixth straight month of contraction. Meanwhile, the official nonmanufacturing purchasing managers index dropped to 52.8 in October from 53.7 in September, marking its lowest point since February 2016.

Japan’s Nikkei












NIK, +0.36%










  edged up 0.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index












HSI, +1.11%










  rose 0.9%. The Shanghai Composite












SHCOMP, -0.09%










  and the smaller-cap Shenzhen Composite












399106, -0.15%










  declined slightly. South Korea’s Kospi












180721, +1.05%










  gained 0.9% while benchmark indexes in Taiwan












Y9999, +0.17%










 , Singapore












STI, +0.59%










  and Malaysia












FBMKLCI, +0.22%










  advanced. Stocks dipped in Indonesia












JAKIDX, -0.61%










 . Australia’s S&P/ASX 200












XJO, -0.50%










  retreated 0.6%.

Among individual stocks, Sony












6758, +3.99%










  and SoftBank












9984, +2.97%










  gained in Tokyo trading, while Honda












7267, -2.24%










  slumped. In Hong Kong, Apple component makers Sunny Optical












2382, +8.04%










  and AAC












2018, +3.85%










  surged after Apple












AAPL, -0.01%










  reported earnings that beat estimates, and forecast a better-than-expected holiday quarter. Samsung












005930, +1.79%










  rose in South Korea despite reporting a 52% drop in net profit, attributed largely to the slumping chip market. In Australia, Beach Energy












BPT, -1.70%










  and Wespac Banking












WBC, -1.89%










  fell.



Source : MTV