Most Asian markets up ahead of Fed but Tokyo hit by strong yen

Pedestrians walk in front of an electronic quotation board displaying stock prices of Nikkei 225 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Hong Kong, China — Most Asian markets rose Tuesday but Tokyo sank more than one percent as exporters were hit by a stronger yen with traders gearing up for a bumper US interest rate cut and a key Japanese central bank meeting.

Bets on the Federal Reserve slashing borrowing costs by as much as half a percentage point have jumped in recent days, with observers suggesting officials want to front-load an expected series of reductions.

That has weighed on the dollar, which sank below 140 yen Monday for the first time since summer 2023 and also weakened against its other major peers.

READ: Stock markets mixed before Fed decision

A string of data in the past few months have indicated that US inflation is easing back to the Fed’s two percent target, while the labour market is slowing, giving decision-makers room to loosen monetary policy.

Bank boss Jerome Powell has already suggested officials will begin cutting, but debate has focused on whether they will go for 25 basis points or 50, with some warning that the bigger option could signal there is some concern about the economy.

Successive big misses on jobs creation in July and August fanned fears of a recession, though policymakers have looked to temper that talk.

And independent analyst Stephen Innes said: “The labour market and inflation data haven’t exactly screamed for a massive cut, but that hasn’t stopped the market from placing its bets.

“With a 50-basis-point cut looking like a sure thing, disappointment could be on the horizon if the Fed pulls back with a mere 25 basis points.

“The first cut is just the appetiser, though — the main course comes with Jay Powell’s press conference and the Fed’s dot plot, which will likely set the pace for the rest of the year,” he added, referring to the bank’s guidance on rates.

The strengthening yen — which is up around 13 percent from the four-decade low hit in July — hit the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo as exporters were sold off.

READ: Bourse rallies past 7,100 on US rate cut hopes

The index was down more than two percent at the break as traders returned from a long weekend.

However, optimism for a big Fed cut boosted most other Asian markets, with Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta all up.

Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei were closed for holidays.

With the Fed seen as certain to cut rates Wednesday for the first time since 2020, investors are keenly awaiting the Bank of Japan’s policy decision on Friday after it hiked twice this year, which were the first increases in 17 years.

Officials in Tokyo are forecast to stand pat but a surprise move in July sparked turmoil on global markets and led to the massive unwinding of so-called yen carry trades in which investors use the cheap currency to buy high-yielding assets such as stocks.

Analysts at Asymmetric Advisors said they “don’t think BoJ will hike rates again in the very near term given weakening overseas demand and the recent yen’s strength, which has relieved some pressure on Japan’s central bank to act”.

However, they added that “we do see more room for yen’s appreciation as the pressure is now mounting on the US Federal Reserve to ease its monetary policy more aggressively to support the US economy”.

Key figures around 0230 GMT

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.1 percent at 35,828.54 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 1.3 percent at 17,643.05

Shanghai – Composite: Closed for a holiday

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 140.40 yen from 140.63 yen on Monday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1128 from $1.1131

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3206 from $1.3216

Euro/pound: UP at 84.25 pence from 84.22 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.6 percent at $70.51 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.3 percent at $73.00 per barrel

New York – Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 41,622.08 (close)

London – FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,278.44 (close)