UPDATE: Asian shares mixed ahead of data releases

People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Thursday, June 19, 2014. Asia’s markets were mixed Monday, June 30, despite a positive lead from Wall Street, as traders await the release of key economic data this week including figures on global manufacturing and US jobs. AP PHOTO/KOJI SASAHARA

HONG KONG–Asia’s markets were mixed Monday despite a positive lead from Wall Street, as traders await the release of key economic data this week including figures on global manufacturing and US jobs.

Tokyo climbed 0.44 percent, or 67.10 points to finish at 15,162.10, Seoul rose 0.69 percent, or 13.70 points, to 2,002.21 and Shanghai ended 0.59 percent higher, adding 11.82 points to 2,048.33.

However, Sydney slipped 0.91 percent, or 49.4 points, to close at 5,395.7 while Hong Kong was marginally lower, edging down 21.20 points to 23,200.32.

With few catalysts to drive business, the focus is on Tuesday’s release of June purchasing managers’ indices out of China, the eurozone and the United States.

There are hopes the figures will show a further rise in activity in global manufacturing following a recent uptick.

A preliminary report from HSBC earlier in the month showed growth in China for the first time this year.

Later in the week the US Labor Department unveils its jobs report for June, which will be pored over for clues about the state of the world’s No. 1 economy.

The three main indices on Wall Street ended higher Friday thanks to a healthy earnings report from Nike. The Dow edged marginally higher, while the S&P 500 rose 0.19 percent and the Nasdaq put on 0.43 percent.

Japan’s Nikkei on Monday ended higher despite a pick-up in the yen, which hits exporters’ profitability and competitiveness.

The greenback bought 101.37 yen in the afternoon, compared with 101.45 yen in New York Friday. The euro fetched $1.3653 and 138.42 yen against $1.3646 and 138.45 yen in US trade.

Before the market opened Tokyo released data showing factory output rose 0.5 percent in May from a month earlier after a 2.8 percent fall in April.

The median forecast by the market had been for a recovery of 0.9 percent after a sales tax rise in April dampened consumer demand and production.

On oil markets US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery was down 59 cents at $105.15 a barrel in afternoon trade. Brent crude dropped 78 cents to $112.52.

Gold fetched $1,312.17 an ounce at 1145 GMT compared with $1,315.46 late Friday.

In other markets:

— Taipei rose 0.93 percent, or 86.24 points, to 9,393.07.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. added 0.80 percent to Tw$126.5 while Hon Hai Precision added 1.42 percent to Tw$100.0.

— Wellington was marginally lower, dipping 2.77 points to 5,141.48.

Contact Energy eased 0.38 percent to NZ$5.31 and Trade Me lost 0.57 percent to end at NZ$3.48.

— Manila was flat, nudging up 2.16 points to 6,844.31.

Ayala Corp. shed 0.08 percent to 647.50 pesos and Philippine Long Distance Telephone was up 0.95 percent at 2,988 pesos.

— Kuala Lumpur ended flat, edging up 1.78 points to 1,882.71.

YTL rose 1.3 percent to 1.62 ringgit, while Public Bank lost 0.1 percent to 19.58 ringgit.

— Singapore fell 0.47 percent, or 15.38 points, to 3,255.67.

United Overseas Bank tumbled 0.31 percent to Sg$22.52 and Singapore Telecom declined 1.03 percent to Sg$3.85.

— Jakarta ended up 0.69 percent, or 33.45 points, at 4,878.58.

Retailer Hero Supermarket gained 3.52 percent to 2,795 rupiah, while palm oil firm Astra Agro Lestari slipped 1.83 percent to 28,175 rupiah.

— Bangkok added 0.17 percent, or 2.51 points, to 1,485.75.

Oil company PTT gained 1.92 percent to 318 baht, while Thai Airways International lost 2.63 percent to 14.80 baht.

— Mumbai rose 1.25 percent, or 313.86 points, to 25,413.78.

Syndicate Bank surged 10.90 percent to 175.00 rupees and Allahabad Bank gained 9.18 percent to 145.15 rupees.

Originally posted: 10:45 am | Monday, June 30th, 2014