Gold Climbs to Three-Month High on Haven Demand as Stocks Drop

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Gold rose to a three-month high as investors continue to seek alternative assets amid turbulence in financial markets. Asian stocks dropped and oil resumed its selloff.

Bullion for immediate delivery gained as much as 0.2 percent to $1,130.50 an ounce, the highest level since Nov. 3, and traded at $1,128.33 at 9:11 a.m. in Singapore, according to Bloomberg generic pricing.

Gold is extending its 2016 rally, underpinned by demand for haven assets and rising bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hold off on raising interest rates further. Investors added to gold holdings through exchange-traded funds for a 10th straight day, as of Jan. 29.

Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said Monday it’s difficult to gauge the impact on the U.S. economy from recent market turbulence and uncertainty over China, leaving policy makers undecided about what to do next.

Source : Bloomberg

Yen Still Sulking, Resilient Aussie Awaits RBA Rate Review

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The yen remained in the doldrums on Tuesday after a restless session overnight, while the Australian dollar held firm as investors bet the Reserve Bank of Australia will resist the recent trend for surprise policy easings.

The dollar bought 120.85 yen, staying near a peak of 121.70 set on Friday after a shock cut in Japanese interest rates sent yen bulls packing.

The euro fetched 131.68 yen, also not far from a high of 132.45.

Against the greenback, the common currency flirted with $1.0900 after bouncing off a low of $1.0815. It was still well within a $1.0711-$1.0985 range seen in January.

Source : Reuters

Japanese Stocks Fall, Halting Two-Day Rally, as Oil Resumes Rout

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Japanese stocks fell for the first time in three days, led by energy companies as crude oil resumed its rout amid concern that China’s economy is slowing.

The Topix lost 0.9 percent to 1,449.93 as of 9:02 a.m. in Tokyo, halting a rally of more than 5 percent over the previous two days after the Bank of Japan boosted stimulus. All but two of its 33 industry groups declined. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped 0.7 percent to 17,743.13. The yen traded at 120.90 per dollar.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. dropped 1.4 percent, taking its loss this year to 25 percent, after reporting late Monday that third-quarter profit fell 27 percent. The result came after two days of declines in bank shares following the BOJ’s surprise decision Friday to start charging lenders 0.1 percent for some of their deposits, a move that may crimp earnings. The Topix Banks Index was down 21 percent this year through Monday’s close.

Source : Bloomberg

Asia Stocks Fall First Time in Five Days as Energy Shares Drop

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Asian stocks dropped, with the regional benchmark index heading for its first decline in five days, as material and energy shares led losses after oil resumed its selloff amid signs China’s economy is deteriorating.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index slid 0.3 percent to 122.29 as of 9:01 a.m. in Tokyo. The gauge on Monday capped its longest winning streak of the year, gaining 4.1 percent in four days, as optimism grew that central banks around the world will support financial markets. Crude tumbled Monday after China’s official factory gauge signaled a record sixth straight month of deterioration.

Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said on Monday that the impact of recent market turbulence on U.S. growth could factor into decision-making, helping U.S. stocks shrug off the oil slump to close little changed. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.4 percent on Tuesday.

Japan’s Topix index lost 0.8 percent, after rallying more than 5 percent over the previous two days on the Bank of Japan’s unexpected stimulus boost. South Korea’s Kospi index slid 0.6 percent. New Zealand’s benchmark gauge added 0.2 percent. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index retreated 0.6 percent before the nation’s central bank reviews its monetary policy.

Futures on the FTSE China A50 Index added 0.2 percent in most recent trading, while those for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.2 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index slumped 1.8 percent on Monday after official factory gauge signaled a record sixth straight month of deterioration, raising the stakes for policy makers struggling to prop up the economy amid a second bear market in stocks since June and a currency at a five-year low.

Source : Bloomberg

Bursa Hong Kong Turun Pasca Melemahnya Data China ( Review )

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Bursa saham Hong Kong melemah pada hari Senin setelah survei resmi menunjukkan aktivitas pabrik China menyusut lebih dari yang diharapkan pada bulan Januari dan merupakan laju tercepat dalam hampir 3-1/2 Tahun terakhir.

Indeks Hang Seng turun 0,5 persen ke 19,595.50 poin, sementara Indeks China Enterprises Kehilangan 1,2 persen menjadi 8,144.85.(frk)

Sumber : Reuters