Asian Equities Supported by China Trade Data

Asian stocks were mostly firmer after benign Chinese economic data helped offset risk aversion generated by a continuing slide in crude oil prices, while the dollar fell to a one-month low against the safe-haven yen.  MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan pared earlier losses to rise 0.3 percent after Chinese trade data proved better than expected.

The indicators provided relief as recent signs of weakness in the world’s second largest economy has been central in worries over global growth.  Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.7 percent and the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.8 percent.

But Australian shares were down 0.3 percent, highlighting still prevalent concerns about tumbling crude oil prices.  Japan’s Nikkei underperformed its Asian peers and shed 1.7 percent as investors returned after a three-day weekend.

Reuters

Content is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please access the RSS feed or contact us at info@marketpulse.com. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2023 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.