China’s largest private property developer Country Garden (2007.HK) is the focus of worry presently, as it struggles to make coupon payments, and its shares plunged to a record low on Thursday after the company forecast a $7.6 billion loss for the first half.
In Australia, a closely-watched dispute at major gas fields deepened with the national labour regulator allowing workers at two Chevron (CVX.N) facilities to vote on whether to strike.
The prospect of disruption there and at another Woodside (WDS.AX) facility, which together account for 10% of the liquefied natural gas market has lately roiled prices in Europe.
Outgoing Aussie central bank chief Philip Lowe, meanwhile, struck a dovish tone in an appearance before lawmakers saying recent data are consistent with the economy finding the “narrow path” to falling inflation without big rises in joblessness.
Lowe’s term ends in about a month, when he hands over to deputy Michelle Bullock and he said his focus would switch to lowering his golf handicap.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/ZUVAAOVRKRLLJJ3ROFKKV4XRFY.jpg "Bonds droop as inflation cheer fades 40")
