Asia stocks, oil rally after Fed lowers rate hike forecasts

AFP, HONG KONG: Stocks, emerging market currencies and oil all rallied in Asia yesterday after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen lowered her expectations for US interest rate hikes this year.
In a statement following the Fed’s latest policy meeting, Yellen cited concerns about the impact on the US economy of recent turmoil in global markets, weakness in China and Europe, and the plunge in crude prices.
Her comments came after the central bank cut its outlook for US growth for this year and painted a picture of the economy that was less upbeat than many had expected.
But crucially it forecast a slower pace of interest rate rises than foreseen in December, when it announced its first hike in almost a decade.
Yellen said policymakers had opted for “a slightly more accommodative path” given “soft” US business investment and weak exports in recent months.
The prospect of rates staying at ultra-low levels for some time boosted US shares, gains that extended into Asian trade. Hong Kong added one per cent in the afternoon and Shanghai put on 1.2 per cent, while Sydney ended up one per cent and Seoul was 0.7 per cent higher. Singapore put on one per cent and Manila rallied almost two per cent. However, Tokyo succumbed to late selling to end 0.2 per cent down.
“The Fed’s stance is relatively friendly,” Mitsushige Akino, executive officer at Ichiyoshi Asset Management Co. in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News.
“The difference in the stance between the market and the authorities has shrunk, and we’ve managed to get through an important event without drama.”  
The dollar tumbled to 112.57 yen in New York from 113.71 yen earlier Wednesday in Asia and on Thursday it extended its losses to 111.84 yen.
The euro jumped to $1.1249 Thursday from $1.1226 in US trade and well up from the $1.1090 in Tokyo Wednesday.
The dollar plunged against emerging currencies, with the South Korean won up 1.7 per cent, the Australian dollar two per cent higher, Indonesia’s rupiah put on 1.4 per cent and the Thai baht was 0.6 per cent higher.
There were also sharp gains for the New Zealand dollar and Singapore dollar. The oil-dependent Malaysian ringgit rallied 1.3 per cent.
On oil markets, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate surged almost six per cent Wednesday and Brent more than four per cent as the weaker dollar makes the commodity cheaper for clients using other currencies. In afternoon trade Thursday WTI added 1.3 per cent and Brent 0.5 per cent.
Adding to buying sentiment was news that key producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia will hold a meeting next month to discuss output levels,with hopes they will agree a freeze.

Asia stocks, oil rally after Fed lowers rate hike forecasts

AFP, HONG KONG: Stocks, emerging market currencies and oil all rallied in Asia yesterday after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen lowered her expectations for US interest rate hikes this year. In a statement following the Feds latest policy meeting, Yellen cited concerns about the impact on the US economy of recent turmoil in global markets, weakness in China and Europe, and the plunge in crude prices. Her comments came after the central bank cut its outlook for US growth for this year and painted a picture of the economy that was less upbeat than many had expected. But crucially it forecast a slower pace of interest rate rises than foreseen in December, when it announced its first hike in almost a decade. Yellen said policymakers had opted for a slightly more accommodative path given soft US business investment and weak exports in recent months. The prospect of rates staying at ultra-low levels for some time boosted US shares, gains that extended into Asian trade. Hong Kong added one per cent in the afternoon and Shanghai put on 1.2 per cent, while Sydney ended up one per cent and Seoul was 0.7 per cent higher. Singapore put on one per cent and Manila rallied almost two per cent. However, Tokyo succumbed to late selling to end 0.2 per cent down. The Feds stance is relatively friendly, Mitsushige Akino, executive officer at Ichiyoshi Asset Management Co. in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News. The difference in the stance between the market and the authorities has shrunk, and weve managed to get through an important event without drama. The dollar tumbled to 112.57 yen in New York from 113.71 yen earlier Wednesday in Asia and on Thursday it extended its losses to 111.84 yen. The euro jumped to $1.1249 Thursday from $1.1226 in US trade and well up from the $1.1090 in Tokyo Wednesday. The dollar plunged against emerging currencies, with the South Korean won up 1.7 per cent, the Australian dollar two per cent higher, Indonesias rupiah put on 1.4 per cent and the Thai baht was 0.6 per cent higher. There were also sharp gains for the New Zealand dollar and Singapore dollar. The oil-dependent Malaysian ringgit rallied 1.3 per cent. On oil markets, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate surged almost six per cent Wednesday and Brent more than four per cent as the weaker dollar makes the commodity cheaper for clients using other currencies. In afternoon trade Thursday WTI added 1.3 per cent and Brent 0.5 per cent. Adding to buying sentiment was news that key producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia will hold a meeting next month to discuss output levels,with hopes they will agree a freeze.