People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo on June 10, 2013. Asian markets fell in holiday-reduced trade on Wednesday, as the Bank of Japan’s refusal to unveil any fresh stimulus measures raised concerns about central banks’ role in supporting the world’s economies. AP PHOTO/KOJI SASAHARA
HONG KONG—Asian markets fell in holiday-reduced trade on Wednesday, as the Bank of Japan’s refusal to unveil any fresh stimulus measures raised concerns about central banks’ role in supporting the world’s economies.
The greenback managed to claw back some ground in forex business but remains stuck around six percent below its peaks seen at the end of last month.
Tokyo fell 0.21 percent, or 28.30 points, to 13,289.32 following a 1.45 percent loss on Tuesday, although it pared most of the earlier losses thanks to a pick-up in the dollar through the day.
Sydney fell 0.69 percent, or 32.6 points, to 4,724.5, while Seoul skidded 0.56 percent, or 10.77 points, to 1,909.91 and Wellington dipped 0.48 percent, giving up 21.45 points to close at 4,442.12.
Trade was limited, however, with Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei and Manila all closed for public holidays.
The BoJ said Tuesday the Japanese economy was “picking up,” but while it warned of possible headwinds caused by weakness in key export markets it chose not to add to April’s giant bond-buying splurge.
The decision reignited fears about other central banks’ stimulus plans, with the US Federal Reserve signaling it wanted to draw up a plan to wind down its own huge $85 billion-a-month stimulus scheme.
“Stock market rises globally have been fueled for so long in one way or another by government monetary easing programs that any talk of their termination seems to result in knee-jerk reactions,” said Daisuke Uno, strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
“What the BoJ announced was not really new, nor dramatic, and largely applied to the bond market, but stocks are inextricably tied to currency market movements.”
He added: “The case can be made that the dollar is in line for a retracement after running up from below 80 yen to well over 100 yen in the last several months.”
On forex markets Wednesday, the dollar bought 96.76 yen in Tokyo, compared with 96.01 late in New York, but still well down from 98.11 yen in Tokyo earlier Tuesday. It had hit a high of almost 104 yen in May.
The euro traded at 128.69 yen, from 127.81 late Tuesday, while it was also at $1.3303, from $1.3311.
Wall Street also suffered, with the Dow falling 0.76 percent, the S&P 500 off 1.02 percent and the Nasdaq losing 1.06 percent.
Oil prices also eased, with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, dropping 83 cents to $94.55 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for July 53 cents lower at $102.43.
Gold was at $1,377.00 at 1045 GMT from $1,369.29 late Tuesday.
In other markets:
— Bangkok fell 1.32 percent, or 19.16 points, to 1,433.47.
Banpu lost 1.16 percent to 255 baht and PTT Plc plunged 2.15 percent at 318 baht.
— Jakarta rose 1.91 percent, or 87.94 points, to 4,697.88.
Food giant Indofood Sukses Makmur gained 8.66 percent to 6,900 rupiah, and miner Aneka Tambang fell 1.74 percent to 1,130 rupiah.
— Kuala Lumpur fell 0.25 percent, or 4.45 points, to 1,775.12.
UMW Holdings shed 2.9 percent to 14.30 ringgit, IOI Corp. eased 2.2 percent to 5.30 while Astro rose 1.0 percent to 3.03.
— Mumbai fell 0.53 percent, or 101.87 points, to 19,041.13.
India’s Tata Power fell 3.03 percent to 80.05 rupees while Coal India fell 2.69 percent to 303.30 rupees.
— Singapore fell 0.53 percent, or 16.90 points, to 3,153.48.
Vehicle distributor Jardine Cycle & Carriage gained 0.90 percent to Sg$41.47 while Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation shed 0.30 percent to Sg$10.07.—Danny McCord