(Bloomberg) — Asian equities climbed, aided by some encouraging signs in China’s economy and a retreat in the dollar.
Most Read from Bloomberg
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4%, its first gain this week, following data that showed China’s retail sales expanded at the strongest pace in eight months and property prices fell at a slower pace. Japanese benchmarks advanced about 0.8%, supported by weakness in the yen. US contracts slipped.
A gauge of the dollar halted a five-day gain that was helped by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments that the central bank will be in no rush to cut interest rates. Friday’s action gives a welcome respite to emerging market assets after they were sold off for most of the week on US President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks and uncertainties over China’s recovery.
“The strength of the dollar has obviously taken away some of the returns from emerging markets local currency bonds, but we think the more attractive opportunity at this point is in the hard currency aspect of emerging markets,” Salman Niaz, head of global fixed income for APAC ex-Japan at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, said on Bloomberg Television, referring to dollar-denominated debt. “We think a December rate cut is in the cards and we think there will be at least two cuts next year.”
US two-year yields were little changed after surging in the previous session as traders pared back their expectations for an interest-rate cut in December. More clarity on the Fed’s path can emerge as the US releases retail sales data and a host of Fed officials are set to speak.
A gauge of emerging markets equities was on pace for its worst week since June 2022, while a separate index of emerging markets currencies came close to erasing its gains for the year.
Among key earnings in Asia, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reports later Friday after another Chinese consumption bellwether JD.com Inc posted a moderate expansion in revenue.
China’s retail sales were “pretty good,” and a result of the central bank’s stimulus policy in late September, according to Jason Chan, senior investment strategist for Bank of East Asia. ““Fiscal stimulus is on the way, probably more details would be announced in December.”
In commodities, oil headed for a weekly drop, weighed down by the impact of a stronger dollar and concerns the global market will flip to a glut next year. Gold held near a two-month low.
