Asia shares mixed ahead of US jobs
A man walks by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo on June 20, 2014. Asian markets were mixed Thursday, July 3, as profit-taking tempered the buoyant sentiment fueled by another record-breaking performance on Wall Street. AP
HONG KONG–Asian markets were mixed Thursday, as profit-taking tempered the buoyant sentiment fueled by another record-breaking performance on Wall Street.
Investors are now keeping their focus on the release later in the day of key US jobs figures, hoping for further signs a recovery in the world’s number-one economy is picking up strength.
Tokyo ended 0.14 percent lower, edging down 21.68 points to 15,348.29 after rising more than 1.5 percent over the previous three days. Seoul lost 0.21 percent, or 4.31 points, to close at 2,010.97, while Hong Kong was marginally lower, giving up 18.18 points to 23,531.44.
However, Sydney added 0.66 percent, or 35.8 points, to 5,491.2 and Shanghai closed 0.19 percent higher, adding 3.81 points to 2,063.23.
Regional shares have enjoyed a broad rally this week, helped by data suggesting Chinese manufacturing is getting back on track.
Global shares have been on an upward course for much of the week and were given an extra lift by a positive report on private jobs Wednesday.
Payrolls company ADP said the private sector added a better-than-expected 281,000 jobs in June, surging from 179,000 in May.
The news lifted sentiment ahead of the release Thursday of the Labor Department’s non-farm payrolls data, which is used as a barometer of the wider economy.
Eyes on US jobs
US shares extended Tuesday’s gains. On Wall Street the Dow added 0.12 percent and the S&P 500 was marginally higher, both hitting records for a second successive day. The Nasdaq was flat.
In foreign exchange trade the gains on equity markets lifted confidence, which provided support to higher risk, higher-yielding units.
The dollar bought 101.91 yen in afternoon Tokyo trade compared with 101.77 yen in New York Wednesday. The yen, which is considered a safe bet in times of uncertainty, has slipped over the past week–on Monday it touched 101.23 against the dollar, its highest level since late May.
The euro bought $1.3659 and 139.22 yen against $1.3658 and 138.99 yen.
Oil extended losses in Asia on prospects that Libya will begin exporting more crude into a global market flush with supplies. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate eased 43 cents to $104.05 while Brent crude for August was down 63 cents at $110.61.
Gold fetched $1,321.07 an ounce at 1045 GMT compared with $1,326.03 late Wednesday.
In other markets:
— Bangkok added 0.09 percent, or 1.40 points, to 1,493.21.
Telecoms company Advanced Info Service lost 0.92 percent to 216 baht, while Siam Cement rose 1.30 percent to 468 baht.
— Jakarta ended down 0.40 percent, or 19.54 points, at 4,888.74.
Miner Aneka Tambang rose 4.13 percent to 1,135 rupiah while Bank Negara Indonesia fell 1.15 percent to 4,745 rupiah.
— Kuala Lumpur gained 0.10 percent, or 1.85 points, to 1,888.69.
Utility Tenaga Nasional added 0.7 percent to 12.46 ringgit, while IHH Healthcare rose 0.9 percent to 4.43. Axiata Group lost 0.3 percent to 6.93 ringgit.
— Manila closed 0.71 percent higher, adding 48.71 points to 6,899.31.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone rose 0.74 percent to 3,000 pesos, Universal Robina added 1.69 percent to 156 pesos and SM Investments inched up 0.06 percent to 809.50 pesos.
— Mumbai fell 0.07 percent or 17.46 points to end at 25,823.75 points.
GMR Infrastructure fell 7.98 percent to 31.15 rupees, while Jaiprakash Power Ventures lost 4.66 percent to 22.50 rupees.
Trading had to be halted for more than three hours due to a network outage.
— Singapore rose 0.28 percent, or 9.24 points, to close at 3,273.15.
United Overseas Bank gained 1.85 percent to Sg$23.08 while Singapore Telecommunications eased 0.26 percent to Sg$3.86.
— Taipei added 0.44 percent, or 41.27 points, to 9,526.23.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. put on 1.51 percent to Tw$134.5 while Hon Hai was 0.97 percent higher at Tw$104.0.
— Wellington rose 0.35 percent, or 18.01 points, to 5,167.39.
Air New Zealand was up 1.4 percent at NZ$2.17 and Fletcher Building lifted 0.91 percent to NZ$8.85.
