Asian markets mixed ahead of key Germany vote

HONG KONG—Asian markets were mixed in choppy trade Thursday ahead of a key vote by Germany’s parliament on whether to approve an expansion of the eurozone’s rescue fund.

A new European Union-International Monetary Fund audit of Greece’s progress under its 110 billion euro ($150 billion) bailout also weighed on sentiment.

Tokyo reversed early losses to finish 0.99 percent higher, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 index rising 85.58 points to 8,701.23 as the market welcomed a rebound in the euro.

But Seoul was the standout performer, putting on 2.68 percent amid growing expectations that Germany will likely be the latest of the 17 eurozone parliaments to ratify an expansion of the 440-billion-euro ($599 billion) fund.

“Of course it won’t solve the eurozone’s fundamental debt problem, but at least it will provide some relief,” Tong Yang Securities analyst Cho Byung-Hyun told Dow Jones Newswires.

Sydney slipped 0.77 percent, but finished off its lows, while Chinese shares finished 1.12 percent lower on fears of a domestic slowdown due to the woes in Europe and the US.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was down 26.72 points at 2,365.34 on turnover of 57.0 billion yuan ($9.0 billion).

The key index is close to a 15-month low of 2,363.95 points reached on July 5, 2010.

China’s economy expanded 9.5 percent year on year in the second quarter of this year, slower than the 9.7 percent posted in the first quarter and 9.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.

“With weakness in US and European markets, domestic markets are likely to follow. Added to this, there is also concern about slowing domestic economic growth,” said Zhang Gang, an analyst at Central China Securities.

Copper plays also dropped on recent falls in international copper prices and expectations of weak demand amid a slumping global economy.

Jiangxi Copper was down 2.7 percent at 26.46 yuan and Jingcheng Copper plunged 5.7 percent to 13.63 yuan.

Shipping-related firms, too, suffered as investors worried about a slowdown in global trade. China Shipping Container Lines shed 1.0 percent to 2.97 yuan, while Shanghai International Port lost 1.3 percent to 3.00 yuan.

The tone was set by see-sawing sessions in the United States and Europe. Bourses opened higher but sank toward the close, with US stocks taking a sharp drop in the last hour of trade to break a three-session run of gains.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.61 percent lower at 11,010.90, while the broader S&P 500 gave up 2.07 percent to 1,151.06 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 2.17 percent to 2,491.58.

Stocks came under the shadow of a push in Europe Wednesday on landmark proposals to tax the financial sector, ignoring US opposition in a move also sure to provoke a row with London which fears capital flight from the city.

But the main worry continues to be eurozone debt crisis.

“The biggest event risk on traders’ minds is the German vote on the expanded powers of the EFSF,” said IG Markets analyst Ben Potter in Sydney, referring to the European Financial Stability Facility.

“The vote is key and whilst most see this being voted through, markets will remain nervous ahead of it.”

On foreign exchange markets, the euro gained on buybacks against other major currencies in Asia.

The euro fetched $1.3608 in Tokyo trade against $1.3536 in New York late Wednesday. The European single unit also rose to 104.09 yen from 103.60 yen.

The dollar traded at 76.51 yen, little changed from 76.53 yen.

World oil prices rebounded in Asian trade on bargain-hunting, but persistent concerns over the faltering US economy and the eurozone debt crisis weighed on sentiment.

New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November, turned higher in afternoon trade, rising five cents to $81.26 and Brent North Sea crude for November delivery climbed 26 cents to $104.07.

Prices were boosted by traders buying cheaper oil following recent falls.

Gold was at $1,623 an ounce by 0600 GMT, down slightly from $1,637.10, where it stood at the same time on Wednesday.

In other markets:

— Singapore added 0.26 percent, or 6.96 points, to 2,708.13.

Casino play Genting Singapore fell 0.31 percent to Sg$1.60 and oil rig maker Keppel Corp dipped 1.61 percent to Sg$7.94. Singapore Telecom advanced 1.30 percent to Sg$3.17.

— Hong Kong markets were closed for the day due to a typhoon.

— Manila added .04 percent, or 1.51 points, to 3,877.63.

— Taiwan’s weighted index rose 35.63 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,182.61.

Fufon Financial edged up 0.79 percent at Tw$70.3 while leading IC design house MediaTek was 1.35 percent lower at Tw$328.5

— Bangkok slipped 0.58 percent, or 5.39 points, to 926.21.

Banpu lost 22 baht to 544, while PTT dropped 8 baht to 263.

— Kuala Lumpur added 15.91 points, or 1.16 percent, to 1,387.46.

Budget airline Air Asia rose 2.69 percent to 3.05 ringgit, and gaming giant Genting gained 1.17 percent to 3.45. Communications service provider Maxis lost 0.38 percent to 5.29 ringgit.

— Indonesian shares rose 24.01 points, or 0.68 percent, to 3,537.18

— Mumbai rose 1.54 percent, or 252.05 points, to 16,698.07.

India’s leading vehicle maker Tata Motors advanced 3.21 percent to 160.95 rupees while rival Maruti Suzuki India closed up 2.82 percent to 1,104.95.

India’s second largest software exporter Infosys rose 3.04 percent to 2,550 while private bank HDFC Bank ended up 2.94 percent to 470.65.