The euro extended losses in Asian trade Tuesday as political uncertainty in Italy stoked fresh fears about the eurozone.
Italy, one of the European Union’s biggest economies, has been plunged into crisis after President Sergio Mattarella at the weekend vetoed the new government’s nomination of a fierce eurosceptic as economy minister.
The move led the country’s prime minister-elect to step down, meaning the populist Five Star Movement and the far-right League’s bid to form a government collapsed.
Mattarella then named Carlo Cottarelli, a pro-austerity economist formerly with the International Monetary Fund, to lead a technocrat government, with another election likely in the autumn.
The chaotic developments have spooked investors, who fear another election could see a better result for the essentially anti-EU parties.
National Australia Bank said in a commentary: “Fears of a euro existential crisis are gathering momentum amid simmering political turmoil in Italy.”
Yields on Italy’s key 10-year bonds surged to 235 points above that of benchmark German bunds, its highest level in more than four years, in a sign of falling confidence among investors.
Stock markets in Milan, Paris and Frankfurt tumbled, while the euro sank against the dollar with the eurozone facing its biggest upheaval since the Greek debt crisis.
In early Asian trade the single currency continued to suffer, and was in danger of falling below the $1.16 level last breached in early November.
– Period of uncertainty –
Adding to selling pressure on the unit is a brewing crisis in Spain, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faces a no-confidence vote after his party was found guilty of benefiting from illegal funds in a massive graft trial.
“We may now be in for an extended period of heightened uncertainty ahead of fresh elections” in Italy, Ray Attrill, head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank in Sydney, said in a note.
Asian markets were mostly lower, with traders keeping an eye on oil prices, which have tanked since Saudi Arabia and Russia indicated they could lift output, having abided by a self-imposed cap for two years.
The comments come as supply worries increase, with major producer Venezuela hit by economic uncertainty, Iran facing painful export sanctions and demand seen picking up.
Tokyo ended the morning session more than one percent lower, while Hong Kong slipped 0.5 percent and Shanghai eased 0.2 percent.
Seoul dropped 0.6 percent, while Wellington, Taipei and Manila were also off. However, Sydney added 0.3 percent.
Attention is turning to the release Friday of US jobs data, which will be scoured for clues about the Federal Reserve’s interest rate plans ahead of next month’s policy meeting.
“While a 25 basis points hike is largely a done deal, the next focus is on whether the (policy board) will start to indicate the peak of policy rates as policy approaches neutral,” Tai Hui, JP Morgan Asset Management chief strategist for Asia-Pacific, said.
– Key figures around 0230 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.1 percent at 22,245.23 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.5 percent at 30,641.92
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,129.72
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1616 from $1.1624 late Monday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3302 from $1.3304
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.99 yen from 109.35 yen
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN $1.12 at $66.76 per barrel
Oil – Brent Crude: UP 13 cents at $75.43
London – FTSE 100: Closed for public holiday
New York – Dow: Closed for public holiday