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Asia stocks steady amid lack of cues; China gains

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HONG KONG: Asian stocks held ground on Tuesday though Chinese equities surged to a fresh two-month high as domestic funds piled into financial counters on expectations the world’s second biggest economy may have turned a corner.


MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.2 per cent on Tuesday and held below a 19-month peak hit last Thursday.


The index is up more than 11 per cent since Dec 23, which marked the trough in a selloff triggered by Donald Trump’s surprise win at the US election in November.


With US markets closed for the Presidents Holiday on Monday, Asian markets have had few global cues off which to trade.


Chinese stocks led regional gainers with mainland indexes extending a nearly 7 per cent rise over the last month thanks to an influx of fresh funds from domestic institutional investors and a brightening outlook for the domestic economy.


“We upgraded our China equities call last month because of the strong economic data and comments coming out from the new US administration pointing to a softer stance towards China,” said Francis Cheung, head of China-Hong Kong strategy at CLSA.


China’s blue-chip index clocked its best day in six months on Monday on reports pension funds will begin pumping in funds into the country’s stock markets.


Meanwhile, turnover in Hong Kong shares has jumped noticeably in recent weeks.


Despite the bounce in mainland stocks, valuations remained broadly middle of the pack in Asia with price-to-earnings multiples for Chinese stocks at 19.7, far below Australia’s and India’s at 25 and 23 times, respectively.


In currency markets, the euro nursed overnight losses as lingering concerns about the looming French election rattled the currency region’s bonds.


The single currency declined to $1.05875, having moved little on Monday, due partly to the absence of US investors because of a holiday.


It has fallen nearly 2 per cent so far this month.


Political concerns have been front and centre of investors’ minds over the past week or so, with markets wary about the outcome of the French elections in the wake of Brexit.


“Everybody has learned lessons from last year’s big surprises. People probably don’t want to take big risks. The euro could face


further pressure given there’s still time before the election,” said Ayako Sera, market strategist at


Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.


The premium investors demand to hold French bonds instead of German debt rose to its highest since late 2012 after a poll showed the far-right Marine Le Pen narrowing the gap with more centrist opponents.


The latest French poll overshadowed optimism that Greece may avert another crisis after a government official said the country had agreed with euro zone finance ministers to resume negotiations over its bailout review.— Reuters


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