Asian markets sink as Shanghai falls further

An investor looks at his smart phone displaying stock prices at a brokerage in Beijing Tuesday, July 14, 2015. The Shanghai Composite Index still is down more than 20 percent from its June 12 peak. State-owned brokerages and government pension funds have pledged to buy stocks, and executives and big shareholders are barred from selling. AP

HONG KONG, China – Asian markets tumbled further Tuesday, dragged down by another massive sell-off in Shanghai a day after the mainland Chinese market’s heaviest one-day losses in more than eight years.

Fears of a resumption of the rout that strafed Chinese shares over a month until July 8 sent global traders running Monday, with Wall Street falling for a fifth day in a row and safe-haven gold edging back up after a recent slip.

The dollar weakened against the yen on risk-aversion while analysts said the latest crisis on Chinese markets could affect Federal Reserve policymakers’ decision when considering hiking interest rates.

Shanghai, which collapsed 8.48 percent Monday, fell a further four percent Tuesday, while Hong Kong was 0.50 percent down. Tokyo shed 1.07 percent, Sydney was 0.89 percent lower and Seoul retreated 0.83 percent.

Chinese investors rushed for the exit Monday as more data showing the economy still struggling mixed with fears that government measures to prevent a market crash — including providing vast sums of cash to support shares — will not last.

The moves — introduced after a more than 30 percent dive that wiped trillions off valuations in just under four weeks — had been credited with helping to stem the bleeding, stabilise trading and put prices back on an upward trajectory. The market had surged more than 150 percent in the year to hitting a near-term peak on June 12.

Tuesday’s losses came despite assurances from Beijing that it will unleash more cash to provide stability to jittery share markets.

State-backed China Securities Finance Corporation (CSFC), which has reportedly already pumped billions of yuan into mainland equities under a government plan, will continue to buy stocks, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Return of volatility

“The worst time has passed but we think there is a final leg for this correction,” Steve Yang, strategist at UBS Group AG, said. “Fundamentally there is no reason for funds to come in and buy aggressively.”

However, Zhang Yanbing, an analyst at Zheshang Securities, told AFP: “It’s a normal correction of the market since it rose too much before.”

Shares had climbed about 17 percent since hitting a trough on July 8.

Analysts said the events could be a key issue on the agenda when the Fed’s policy meeting takes place this week. While it is not expected to lift interest rates now, dealers are hoping for some guidance on its plans.

“The return of market volatility in China will be a significant discussion point at the US Fed in terms of what this is telling us about the Chinese economy,” Matthew Sherwood, Sydney-based head of investment strategy at Perpetual Ltd., said. “There is a lot of global weakness and significant external risk.”

The dollar eased to 123.19 yen early Tuesday, from 123.24 yen in New York and well off the 123.75 yen earlier in Asia.

The euro changed hands at $1.1089 and 136.68 yen against $1.1091 and 136.69 yen in US trade.

Gold, which is considered a safe bet in times of crisis, fetched $1.095.66 an ounce compared with $1.096.60 late Monday but it is much higher than the $1,080.50 at the end of last week.

Oil prices continue to suffer from fears about the global economy as well as an oversupply of the commodity. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery was down 30 cents to $47.09 and Brent crude for September dropped 40 cents to $53.07.