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A look at the day ahead in Asian and global markets

By Jamie McGeever, Columnist, Global Finance & Markets

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Asian markets are lacking firm direction either way, but bulls will be hoping the combination of a weaker dollar, lower U.S. bond yields and softer oil prices on Monday will provide the impetus for a more positive session on Tuesday.

RBA governor Michele Bullock delivers the Sir Leslie Melville Public Lecture at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, August 29, 2023 in this handout image. ANU/Tracey Nearmy/Handout via REUTERS

Volatility across major asset classes is low – implied volatility on Wall Street is at its lowest in almost four years, global currency implied vol is the lowest since early last year, and U.S. bond vol is at a two-month low.

Graphics are produced by Reuters.

There are few signs of market stress. But clear ‘buy’ signals aren’t obvious either – the final trading week of November got off to a listless start, with the MSCI World and Asia ex-Japan indexes drifting 0.2% lower on Monday.

On aggregate, Asian stocks have under-performed global benchmarks this year. China’s markets, especially, have lagged, although Japanese stocks have outperformed thanks to the weak yen and a historic loosening of wider financial conditions.

Financial conditions tightened a bit last week, according to Goldman Sachs calculations, but remain broadly supportive of risk appetite – aggregate emerging market conditions are almost 100 basis points looser than they were a month ago, in large part thanks to lower U.S. yields and a weaker dollar.

Asia’s economic, policy and corporate calendars are light on Tuesday. The main economic indicator will be Australian retail sales for October. Economists expect month-on-month growth to slow sharply to just 0.1% from 0.9% in September.

Graphics are produced by Reuters.

The figures will be released just before Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock is scheduled to speak in Hong Kong on a panel jointly hosted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Bank for International Settlements.

Bullock is thought to be more hawkish than her predecessor Philip Lowe which, if true, should in theory lend support to the Australian dollar.

The Aussie on Monday rose above $0.66 for the first time since Aug. 10 and was one of the biggest winners among major currencies along with the Japanese yen and New Zealand dollar.

It has risen 5% in a month, broadly in line with other G10 currencies’ gains against the greenback as traders have moved to price in the end of the U.S. tightening cycle and up to 100 basis points of Fed rate cuts in the second half of next year.

But unlike all other G10 central banks – the Bank of Japan being the obvious exception – the RBA is not expected to ease policy in 2024. Bullock’s remarks on Tuesday could shine a light on how much of an outlier the RBA will ultimately be.

Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

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