Stocks in Asia slump on rate jitters

SINGAPORE, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Asian shares slid on Friday and were on course for their steepest one-day percentage decline in a week after stronger-than-expected U.S. consumer prices figures bolstered the case for the Federal Reserve to keep rates higher for longer.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 1.2%, having scaled a three-week peak on Thursday.

It is, however, still set for a decent gain of 1.4% for the week, snapping a three-week losing streak.

The sour mood was set to continue in Europe, with Eurostoxx 50 futures down 0.19%, German DAX futures losing 0.14% and FTSE futures 0.05% lower.

Inflation reports from Sweden, Spain and France due later in the day will be in focus.

An increase in U.S. consumer prices for September contained a surprise surge in rental costs and traders now see a stronger chance that the Fed will end up delivering another hike this year.

Futures contracts that settle to the Fed policy rate reflect about a 40% probability of a rate hike in December, compared with about a 28% chance seen before the CPI report.

Ryan Brandham, head of global capital markets, North America at Validus Risk Management, said the data highlights the challenges the Fed will face bringing inflation down to its 2% target.

Separate data also showed the number of Americans receiving benefits after an initial week of aid, a proxy for hiring, increased 30,000 to a still-low 1.702 million during the week ended Sept. 30.

“The labour market softening is key to the Fed achieving its goal of returning inflation to target, and the hawks calling for at least another hike will be supported based on these numbers,” Brandham said.

The inflation report along with poor demand for an auction of U.S. 30-year bonds sent Treasury yields higher on Thursday.

In Asian hours on Friday, the yield on 10-year Treasury notes was down 4.1 basis points at 4.670% but remained far off the two-week low of 4.5300% it touched a day earlier.

Recent gains in stocks and a slide in Treasury yields had followed comments from Federal Reserve officials suggesting that U.S. interest rates – which tend to drive global borrowing costs – may have finally peaked.

“Much of the ‘good’ work done in the past week in the form of bull flattening of the US yield curve has been undone by the latest US CPI report,” said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National Australia Bank.

Data on Friday showed China’s consumer prices were flat in September, while factory-gate prices shrank at slower pace, indicating deflationary pressures persist.

But China’s exports and imports shrank at a slower pace for a second month in September, adding to signs of a gradual stabilisation in the world’s second-biggest economy.

China’s blue-chip stock index CSI300 (.CSI300) fell 1.1%, while the Hang Seng Index (.HSI) sank 2%. Japan’s Nikkei (.N225) was 0.53% lower, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index (.AXJO) lost 0.47%.

The week’s sharp escalation of Middle East tensions has also ensured the mood remains cautious across markets.

Investors will next focus on remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell who is due to speak on Oct. 19, just before the U.S. central bank’s blackout period begins ahead of its next interest-rate decision. The Fed next meets Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

The risk-off mood also prevailed in the currency market, with the dollar holding on to overnight gains. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar eased 0.103% to 106.40, having gained 0.8% overnight.

The euro climbed 0.19% to $1.0548, while sterling was at $1.2204, up 0.24%. The dollar’s ascent has again put the Japanese yen under pressure, with the yen at 149.60 per dollar.

Gold prices edged up on Friday but remained below two-week highs hit in the previous session. Spot gold added 0.4% to $1,876.79 an ounce.

Oil prices rose on Friday after the U.S. tightened its sanctions programme against Russian crude exports, raising supply concerns in an already tight market. U.S. crude advanced 0.95% to $83.70 per barrel and Brent was at $86.66, up 0.77% on the day.

Brent is set for a weekly gain of over 2%, while WTI is set to climb about 1% for the week as investors keep a wary eye on the potential for disruptions to Middle Eastern exports due to the Gaza crisis.

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