Asian stocks mixed on trade worries, weak Chinese data

SINGAPORE – Asian shares were mixed on Tuesday as the lack of new leads following a U.S. market holiday kept trade worries and slowing Chinese manufacturing activity in the spotlight.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.1 per cent to 22,693.17, while the Kospi in South Korea gained 0.4 per cent to 2,315.04. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.5 per cent to 27,859.95. The Shanghai Composite index jumped 1.1 per cent to 2,750.77. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3 per cent to 6,290.90, after the Reserve Bank of Australia maintained its economic forecast and kept its benchmark interest rate at a record-low 1.5 per cent. Wall Street was closed on Monday for a Labor Day holiday.

TRADE CONCERNS: On Saturday, President Donald Trump warned that Canada “will be out” of a revised North American trade agreement unless it’s “fair” to the United States. Talks to keep Canada in the trade bloc are to resume Wednesday as Washington and Ottawa try to break a deadlock over issues such as Canada’s dairy market and U.S. efforts to shield drug companies from generic competition. The two countries will continue to engage in trade talks, despite missing a deadline set by the Trump administration. A U.S.-Mexico deal sealed last Monday excluded Canada.

CHINESE PMI: A private survey has showed manufacturing activity in China slowing to a 14-month low. The Caixin Manufacturing PMI, which measures growth in the sector, came in at 50.6 in August, slightly lower than 50.8 in July. The index is on a 100-point scale, with 50 separating contraction from growth.

ANALYST’S TAKE: “A look back on Monday’s Caixin manufacturing PMI from China saw that being a factor to weigh with Asia markets broadly receding on the above-mentioned and broad concerns over looming trade issues,” Jingyi Pan of IG said in a commentary.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude added 32 cents to $70.12 a barrel on Tuesday. It had lost 0.6 per cent to settle at $69.80 a barrel in New York. Brent Crude, used to price international oils, shed 10 cents to $78.05 a barrel.

CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 111.31 yen from 111.08 yen. The euro fell to $1.1601 from $1.1619.