Asia Morning Call-Global Markets

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Stock Markets Net Chng Stock Markets Net Chng S&P/ASX 200** NZX 50** -37.5700 7,537.90 48.80 11,579.8 DJIA 37,621.01 63.09 NIKKEI** 33,675.94 456.55 Nasdaq FTSE** 15,054.192 50.97 7,715.68 77.65 S&P 500 4,774.14 5.77 Hang Seng** 16,613.81 108.81 SPI 200 Fut STI** 7,569.00 18.00 3,108.03 -8.59 SSEC** KOSPI** 2,902.11 -30.28 2,614.3 45.75 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Bonds Bonds JP 10 YR Bond KR 10 YR Bond 0.555 0.001 3.277 -0.045 AU 10 YR Bond US 10 YR Bond 4.047 -0.024 3.892 -0.03 NZ 10 YR Bond US 30 YR Bond 4.555 0 4.017 -0.019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Currencies SGD US$ KRW US$ 1.3303 0.0017 1,298.85 -1.36 AUD US$ NZD US$ 0.67655 0.00035 0.6282 0.0013 EUR US$ Yen US$ 1.0955 -0.0025 143.89 0.07 THB US$ PHP US$ 34.93 0.1 55.72 -0.23 IDR US$ INR US$ 15,505 5 83.139 0.033 MYR US$ TWD US$ 4.656 -0.023 31.31 -0.051 CNY US$ HKD US$ 7.1382 0.0182 7.8063 0.008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Commodities Spot Gold Silver (Lon) 2,034.5107 -5.6101 24.3086 0.2833 U.S. Gold Fut 2,047.50 -4.6 Brent Crude 79.54 0.31 Iron Ore CNY939 16 TRJCRB Index - - TOCOM Rubber JPY241 LME Copper 8,581.5 -14.5 0.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ** indicates closing price All prices as of 18:01 GMT EQUITIES GLOBAL - MSCI's global equities index was gaining ground on Wednesday while Treasury yields fell as U.S. economic data beat expectations and UK inflation slowed. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.12%. For a full report, click on - - - - NEW YORK - The benchmark S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow were nearly flat on Wednesday as investors took a breather from a rally that was sparked by the Federal Reserve's likely pivot to a dovish policy, while FedEx tumbled after issuing a grim outlook. At 11:28 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 15.65 points, or 0.04%, at 37,573.57, the S&P 500 was up 2.53 points, or 0.05%, at 4,770.90, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 35.22 points, or 0.23%, at 15,038.45. For a full report, click on - - - - LONDON - European stocks closed higher on Wednesday after signs of fast-cooling inflation in Britain boosted UK equities, while shares of Belgian pharmaceutical company Argenx sank after a failed drug study. The pan-European STOXX 600 edged up 0.3%, with UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 index jumping 1.0% after data showed British inflation plunged in November to its lowest rate in over two years. For a full report, click on - - - - TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei closed at a more than five-month high on Wednesday as caution on the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) policy stance faded after the central bank offered no hints on when it would exit its negative rate policy. The Nikkei rose 1.37% to end at 33,675.94, its highest close since July 3. For a full report, click on - - - - SHANGHAI - China's blue-chip stocks hit a near 4-year low on Wednesday, as investors are gradually losing hopes for stimulus surprises and not willing to buy the dip, while Hong Kong shares rose tracking overnight Wall Street gains. The blue-chip CSI 300 Index dropped 1.1%, dipping to its lowest closing level since February 2019. For a full report, click on - - - - AUSTRALIA - Australian shares rose to a 10-month closing high on Wednesday, tracking Wall Street's gains overnight as prospects of interest rate cuts in 2024 boosted risk sentiment. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 0.7% to 7,537.9 in broad-based buying, marking its highest close since Feb. 7. For a full report, click on - - - - SEOUL - South Korean shares closed higher for the fifth session in a row on Wednesday, tracking Wall Street's rally overnight on optimism that the Federal Reserve is pivoting towards policy easing next year. The benchmark KOSPI closed up 45.75 points, or 1.78%, at 2,614.30. For a full report, click on - - - - FOREIGN EXCHANGE NEW YORK - The dollar strengthened against the pound on Wednesday after data revealed sharply falling UK inflation, which fueled increased speculation of interest rate cuts by the Bank of England. The dollar index, which tracks the U.S. currency against six peers - was last up 0.07 % at 102.2, on pace to snap a two-day losing streak. For a full report, click on - - - - SHANGHAI - China's yuan inched lower against the dollar on Wednesday, as market participants continued to evaluate the impact from China's steady lending benchmarks and possible changes in monetary policy stances at overseas central banks. The onshore yuan opened at 7.1279 per dollar and was changing hands at 7.1336 at midday, 136 pips weaker than the previous late session close. For a full report, click on - - - - AUSTRALIA - The Australian and New Zealand dollars stood near five-month peaks on Wednesday as oil prices led commodities higher and a dovish outlook from the Bank of Japan delivered sharp gains on the yen. The Aussie was up at $0.6760, having climbed 0.8% the previous session to its highest since late July at $0.6775. The next chart stop is $0.6821 and a double-top at $0.6895/6900. For a full report, click on - - - - SEOUL - The won strengthened on Wednesday while the benchmark bond yield fell. The won ended onshore trade at 1,298.9 per dollar, 0.69% higher than its previous close at 1,307.8. For a full report, click on - - - - TREASURIES NEW YORK - Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields fell to an almost five-month month low on Wednesday after British inflation plunged in November to its lowest rate in over two years, pulling government bond yields lower globally. Benchmark 10-year yields were last down 3 basis points on the day at 3.894% after earlier reaching 3.872%, the lowest since July 27. For a full report, click on - - - - LONDON - Euro zone government bond yields fell further on Wednesday on expectations of rate cuts next year, with Germany's 10-year yield dropping below 2% for the first time since March and the gap between Germany and Italy's 10-year yields hitting its narrowest since late June. Germany's 10-year yield fell 3 basis points (bps) to 1.989%,. For a full report, click on - - - - TOKYO - Japanese government bond (JGB) yields dropped on Wednesday to multi-month lows, as bets of a near-term end to the Bank of Japan's negative interest rates receded. The 10-year JGB yield JP10YTN=JBTC fell as much as 9 basis points (bps) to 0.55%, a level last seen on July 28. For a full report, click on COMMODITIES GOLD Gold prices were largely unchanged on Wednesday, while traders braced for a slew of economic data due later in the week that could offer fresh clues on the U.S. central bank's monetary policy path. Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,035.59 per ounce, as of 1510 GMT. For a full report, click on - - - - IRON ORE Iron ore futures rebounded on Wednesday, supported by lingering low inventories and expectations of a flurry of buying for winter restocking, although falling demand due to growing equipment maintenance among mills limited gains. The most-traded May iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) ended daytime trade 1.46% higher at 939 yuan ($131.58) a metric ton. For a full report, click on - - - - BASE METALS Copper prices spiked on Wednesday to their highest level in more than four-and-a-half months on restocking in China and firmer physical demand, but a stronger dollar weighed on the market. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) eased 0.1% at $8,581.5 per metric ton at 1717 GMT after touching $8,665, the highest since Aug. 4. For a full report, click on - - - - OIL Global oil benchmark Brent hovered near $80 a barrel on Wednesday amid jitters over global trade disruption and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following attacks on ships by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi forces in the Red Sea. Brent crude futures were up 60 cents, or 0.8%, at $79.83 a barrel by 10:52 a.m. EST (1552 GMT). For a full report, click on - - - - PALM OIL Malaysian palm oil futures settled higher for a fifth straight session on Wednesday, a day after Brazil decided to raise its mandatory biodiesel mix into diesel. The benchmark palm oil contract for March delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 22 ringgit, or 0.59%, to 3,771 ringgit ($809.92). It had risen 0.3% on Tuesday. For a full report, click on - - - - RUBBER Japanese rubber futures rose more than 2% on Wednesday, the biggest daily rise in over two months, buoyed by bets of supply tightness in the first quarter of next year and stronger crude futures. The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for May delivery, closed 2.95% higher, or 6.9 yen, at 240.5 yen per kg, the highest closing since Dec. 12. For a full report, click on - - - - (Bengaluru Bureau; +91 80 6749 1130)