Asian Stocks Outside Japan Rise as Utility Shares Climb
Asian stocks outside Japan snapped two days of losses as utilities gained the most in two weeks. Shares in Tokyo declined as brokerages retreated.
Korea Electric Power Corp. (015760) climbed 4.8 percent in Seoul. Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan’s biggest securities company, fell 3.2 percent. Syrah Resources Ltd. soared 28 percent to a record in Sydney following a report Glencore Plc has made a takeover approach for the Melbourne-based miner.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Excluding Japan Index added 0.2 percent to 498.44 as of 6:45 p.m. in Hong Kong, as six of the 10 industry groups advanced. China’s trade balance surplus shrank to $31.6 billion in June, with exports and imports both rising less than economists’ forecasts, a report today showed.
“It’s still consistent with a stabilization in Chinese growth, albeit not quite as strong as one would have liked to have seen,” Shane Oliver, a Sydney-based global strategist at AMP Capital Investors Ltd., which oversees about $131 billion, said by phone. “The bear case on China has been way overstated and this data would support the view that growth is stabilizing not collapsing.”
Japan’s Topix index slipped 0.9 percent after a report showed machine orders unexpectedly fell by a record 19.5 percent in May from the month before. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg forecast a 0.7 percent gain. Brokerages slid, with Nomura dropping 3.2 percent to 676 yen.
South Korea’s Kospi index added 0.1 percent after the central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.2 percent after a report showed payrolls increased by 15,900 in June, beating estimates. New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index gained 0.1 percent. Singapore’s Straits Times Index slid 0.2 percent, while Taiwan’s Taiex index rose 0.8 percent. India’s BSE S&P Sensex fell for a third day, losing 0.3 percent.
Regional Indexes
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 0.3 percent, as did the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) of mainland stocks traded in the city. The Shanghai Composite Index was little changed after rising as much as 0.3 percent.
China’s overseas shipments expanded 7.2 percent last month, missing the 10.4 percent growth forecast by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Imports rose 5.5 percent, less than the 6 percent estimate. Data yesterday showed producer prices fell last month at the slowest pace in more than two years.
“Investors are disappointed as they were expecting better trade numbers,” said Mari Oshidari, a Hong Kong-based strategist at Okasan Securities Group Inc. “Cautiousness towards China’s economy has receded overall, with the government showing signs it will step in to support growth when needed.”
Utility Rally
Utilities rose most among the regional benchmark’s industry groups. Korea Electric surged 4.8 percent to 38,550 won after its chief executive officer said he expects higher profit. China Resources Power Holdings Co. jumped 3.2 percent to HK$22.90 on a report the government is planning to encourage private investment in the power-distribution sector.
The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) added 1.5 percent to a one-year high. Presidential candidate Joko Widodo said unofficial counts showed him winning yesterday’s national election. Widodo, who is known for cutting red tape and boosting investment as governor of Jakarta, had a five percentage point lead, according to two survey companies that declared him the winner, a projection disputed by opponent Prabowo Subianto.
