Euro down as Greece talks break up but Nikkei surges

A man looks at an electronic stock indicator in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. The standoff between Greece and its creditors weighed on Asian stock markets Thursday but improved economic data and a weak yen lifted Japanese shares. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 327.04 points, or 1.85 percent to close at 17,979.72. AP PHOTO/SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI

HONG KONG–The euro dipped in Asian trade Thursday after talks between Greece and its European creditors on restructuring the country’s bailout broke up without agreement.

Japanese shares surged to a more than seven-year high as the yen retreated against the dollar thanks to investors betting on the US Federal Reserve hiking interest rates soon.

The Nikkei in Tokyo, which was closed Wednesday for a public holiday, rallied 1.85 percent, or 327.04 points, to 17,979.72–its best finish since July 2007.

Shanghai rose 0.50 percent, or 15.72 points, to 3,173.42 while Hong Kong gained 0.44 percent, or 107.13 points to 24,422.15.

However, Sydney retreated 0.44 percent, or 25.5 points, to close at 5,743.6 after data showed Australian unemployment at a 12-year high. Seoul eased 0.21 percent, or 4.07 points to 1,941.63.

The focus of attention was on Europe, where eurozone finance ministers were unable to hammer out a renegotiation of Greece’s bailout terms.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup of eurozone ministers, said six hours of talks produced no deal on an extension of Athens’ 240 billion euro EU-IMF rescue programme.

Greece’s bailout is due to expire at the end of February and failure to agree on an extension would see Greece default on its giant debts, almost inevitably meaning that it would crash out of the eurozone.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras led the hard-left Syriza party to victory in elections last month vowing to bring an end to austerity measures imposed under the bailout.

On currency markets the euro bought $1.1317 and 136.20 yen, down from $1.1332 and 136.37 yen in New York Wednesday afternoon.

Fed rate hike in view

“In global terms, the view over Greece is mixed, with a majority saying the Greek situation will have limited impact on global markets and economies,” Andrew Clarke, director of trading at Mirabaud Securities Asia in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg News.

“However, there are a few that think that view is slightly naive. If Greece does pull out and defaults on its debt, what will stop Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal from doing the same?”

The greenback held above 120 yen, with analysts predicting it could advance further if US retail sales later Thursday come in strong.

The dollar was at 120.27 yen, compared with 120.35 yen in US trade but well up from 119.70 yen in Asia earlier Tuesday.

Dealers are moving back into the US unit after another strong jobs report increased the likelihood the Fed will bring forward its timetable for raising rates.

Figures showing Australian unemployment hit a 12-year high of 6.4 percent in January increased the chances the country’s central bank will cut interest rates, sending the local dollar tumbling.

The Aussie hit a near six-year low of 76.59 US cents Thursday, from 77.26 US cents before the jobs data release.

On oil markets US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for March delivery rose 93 cents to $49.77 while Brent crude for March gained 60 cents to $55.26 in afternoon trade.

Gold fetched $1,223.20 an ounce, against $1,234.49 on Wednesday.

In other markets:

— Mumbai rose 0.95 percent, or 271.13 points, to end at 28,805.10 points.

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories rose 5.49 percent to 3,327.50 rupees, while Hindustan Unilever fell 1.53 percent to 887.55 rupees.

— Singapore closed down 0.74 percent, or 25.40 points, to 3,419.17.

Singapore Telecom gained 0.97 percent to Sg$4.18 while Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation fell 0.66 percent to Sg$10.53.

— Bangkok closed up 0.52 percent, or 8.29 points, to 1,613.40.

Thailand’s biggest telecoms operator AIS gained 2.06 percent to 248 baht, while Kasikornbank fell 0.88 percent to 225 baht.

—  Kuala Lumpur’s main stock index lost 9.88 points, or 0.55 percent, to close at 1,789.07.

Sime Darby fell 0.11 percent to 9.49 ringgit, Telekom Malaysia dipped 0.87 percent to 6.87 while Top Glove added 0.40 percent to 4.98 ringgit.

— Jakarta ended up 0.13 percent, or 6.89 points, at 5,343.41.

Coal miner Bukit Asam gained 1.81 percent to 11,225 rupiah, while retailer Hero Supermarket slipped 2.06 percent to 2,135 rupiah.

— Taipei rose 0.36 percent, or 34.09 points, to 9,496.31.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. was 0.34 percent higher at Tw$148.5 while Hon Hai Precision Industry added 1.65 percent to Tw$86.2.

— Wellington fell 0.69 percent, or 38.87 points, to 5,749.32.

Spark was down 3.91 percent at NZ$3.315 and Warehouse Group dropped 0.72 percent to NZ$2.74.

— Manila gained 0.37 percent, or 28.16 points, to end at 7,714.59.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone jumped 1.17 percent to 3,120 pesos, Universal Robina finished 0.28 percent up at 211.60 pesos and Metro Pacific gained 2.77 percent to 5.19 pesos.