Asia markets mostly step back but dollar maintains gains

TOKYO: Asian investors eased off the pedal Wednesday after recent gains but the dollar held up against the yen as North Korea kept itself in the mix by warning it would strengthen its nuclear programme in response to fresh UN sanctions.
While Tokyo was able to kick on thanks to a further weakening of the yen, most regional traders were unwilling to track the record close on Wall Street, and Apple-linked firms were mixed after the firm unveiled its new phone.
The latest gains have been fuelled by relief that Hurricane Irma did not hammer Florida as badly as feared and that the North Korea crisis had eased somewhat after its recent provocative nuclear and missile tests.
However, Pyongyang attracted renewed attention when it vowed Wednesday to accelerate its weapons drive after “evil” Security Council sanctions.
President Donald Trump had earlier warned of more measures against Kim Jong-Un’s regime, while the European Union said it would push ahead with further moves.
In equities trade Tokyo ended 0.5 percent higher as exporters benefited from the weaker yen. The greenback broke back above 110 yen Tuesday after last week’s sell-off saw it tumble to the 10-month lows around 107.30 yen.
Shanghai added 0.1 percent but Hong Kong slipped 0.3 percent in the afternoon, while Sydney eased slightly and Seoul and Singapore lost 0.2 percent each. Wellington and Taipei were also lower.
In other currency trading the pound extended gains after hitting a one-year high against the dollar on the back of a strong British inflation reading, while it was also given support by the return of optimism to markets.
London, which fell on the strong pound Tuesday, opened 0.3 percent lower and Paris shed 0.1 percent while Frankfurt was 0.2 percent off.
OANDA head of Asia-Pacific trading Stephen Innes issued a word of caution after the recent global volatility.
“Ultimately this buoyant risk sentiment should be cheered, but forex traders remain in the Nervous Nellie camp waiting for the next chaotic patch given the evolving narratives,” he warned.
“A word of caution to those enjoying this unexpected sea of tranquillity: the next few weeks and months come with significant risk.”
The release later this week of US inflation figures will be closely followed as the Federal Reserve ponders another interest rate rise and the winding in of its stimulus programme.
Analysts said policymakers could take a little more time to make a move in light of Hurricane Irma in Florida and last month’s Harvey in Texas, which could skew the data the Fed relies on to make its decision.
But Janu Chan, a senior economist at St. George Bank in Sydney, told Bloomberg News: “Our view has been for the US dollar to continue its downward trend that has occurred since January.
“The Fed is no longer the only central bank tightening. Markets are all looking to other central banks. European Central Bank tapering is the next theme that markets want to latch onto.”
Apple suppliers in the region were mixed after the US tech titan unveiled its long-awaited iPhone X and two other models. Apple ended lower in New York trade as investors shrugged.
In Japan component-maker Nidec jumped 3.5 percent and Sharp gained 1.2 percent. Seoul-listed LG Innotek, which supplies 3D sensing modules, fell 1.8 percent while OLED material provider Innox Advanced Materials slipped 0.9 percent as investors were disappointed at delays in rolling out the iPhone X.
In Taipei, TSMC retreated 0.5 percent and Hon Hai gave up 1.3 percent.

Key figures
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.5 percent at 19,865.82 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.3 percent at 27,891.24
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,384.15 (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 7,380.48
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1980 from $1.1964 at 2130 GMT
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 110.12 from 110.18 yen
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3310 from $1.3280
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: FLAT at $48.23 per barrel
Oil – Brent North Sea: DOWN five cents at $54.22
New York – DOW: UP 0.3 percent at 22,118.86 (close). afp