Oil prices rise on U.S. demand; global supply picture eyed
Investing.com-- Most Asian stocks kept to a tight range on Monday as investors digested the announcement of even more trade tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, while Chinese markets advanced on positive trade data for June.
Wall Street futures fell in Asian trade, after Trump over the weekend announced 30% tariffs on Mexico and the European Union, effective August 1.
The announcement capped off a week of Trump outlining steep tariffs against several major U.S. trading partners, which rattled sentiment and pulled Wall Street from record highs. S&P 500 Futures fell nearly 0.5% in Asian trade on Monday.
China stocks rise on strong trade data; GDP on tap
China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes rose 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.5%.
China’s trade balance grew more than expected in June, customs data showed on Monday, buoyed chiefly by a recovery in export growth. This came after Beijing and Washington agreed to slash their respective trade tariffs earlier in the year.
June’s trade data pointed to sustained strength in the Chinese economy through the second quarter, setting the stage for a potentially positive second-quarter gross domestic product print on Tuesday.
But trade data showed China’s imports grew less than expected in June, suggesting that local demand still remained weak. Such a trend could draw out more stimulus measures from Beijing.
Industrial production and retail sales data for June are also due on Tuesday.
GDP data is expected to show the Chinese economy grew at a faster pace than the government’s 5% annual target, amid only limited impact from a brief trade war with Washington.
Beijing doled out a slew of stimulus measures in the past year, all aimed at shoring up local production and consumer spending. Retail sales data is expected to provide more insight into this trend, after surging past expectations in May.
Asia stocks skittish, strong Singapore GDP offers some support
Broader Asian markets were mostly flat on Monday, with substantially stronger-than-expected GDP data from Singapore providing some support. The island state is considered as a bellwether for trade and commerce in Southeast Asia, and is also a major exporter to China.
Singapore’s Straits Times index rose 0.4%.
South Korea’s KOSPI added 0.1% after logging strong gains in the past week, on sustained strength in technology and chipmaking stocks.
Australia’s ASX 200 was flat amid mixed performances in major commodity stocks. Diversified miner South32 (OTC:SOUHY) Ltd (ASX:S32) slid more than 4% after it flagged an impairment at an aluminum smelter in Mozambique.
On the other hand, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) rose 1.4% after it announced a partnership with Chinese battery-making giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (HK:3750).
Japanese shares underperformed amid waning hopes of a trade deal between Tokyo and Washington. The Nikkei 225 index shed 0.3%, while the TOPIX lost 0.2%, extending losses after Trump slapped Tokyo with a 25% tariff.
Gift Nifty 50 Futures for India’s Nifty 50 index fell 0.2%, pointing to sustained weakness in the index as it faced renewed profit-taking at levels above 25,000 points. Investors continued to watch for a trade deal between New Delhi and Washington, after Trump earlier signaled that a deal was close.