Asian stock indices started the working week without any dynamics, while the stock markets of mainland China and Hong Kong went negative on the statistics.
China’s economy expanded 3.9% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, the State Bureau of Statistics (GSO) said. Thus, the growth rate accelerated significantly compared to 0.4% in April-June. Analysts on average expected an increase of 3.4-3.5%.
China’s GDP in January-September increased by 3%. This is significantly below the target set by the authorities of the country as a whole for 2022 at the level of about 5.5%, experts say.
Retail sales in the country in September increased by 2.5% compared to the same month a year earlier, the CSO also reported. This is the minimum rate of recovery over the past four months. The consensus forecast assumed growth of 3.3%.
China’s foreign trade surplus widened unexpectedly in September, as import growth was significantly weaker than exports. Imports increased by only 0.3% in annual terms, exports grew by 5.7%. Analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal, on average, predicted the growth of the first indicator by 1%, the second – by 4%.
The Chinese Shanghai Composite index decreased by 1.2% by 08:37 Moscow time. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng plunged 5.4% to its lowest in more than thirteen years.
Shares of Internet companies Meituan (SPB: 3690) (-12.4%), Baidu Inc. (SPB: BIDU) (-10.7%) and Tencent (SPB: 700) Holdings Ltd. (-9.2%), as well as the developer Longfor Group Holdings Ltd. (-12.2%).
Retailers Alibaba Group (SPB: BABA) and JD.com Inc. (SPB: JD) lost 10.4% and 11%, respectively.
Among the components of Hang Seng, only six stocks show an increase in value, including HSBC bank (+0.5%), developer CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. (+3.4%) and electrical equipment manufacturer Techtronic Industries Co. (+1.1%).
The value of the Japanese Nikkei 225 increased by 0.5% by 08:33 Moscow time.
The stocks of the transport companies Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. have risen most significantly. (+4.4%), Mitsui O.S.K. lines ltd. (+4.2%) and Nippon Yusen K.K. (+3.7%), as well as non-ferrous metal producer Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. (+4.1%).
The South Korean Kospi index added 0.9% by 08:30 Moscow time.
Quotes of securities of one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chips and electronics Samsung Electronics Co. rise by 2.7%, while the cost of automaker Hyundai Motor fell by a similar amount.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.5%.
The capitalization of the world’s largest mining companies BHP and Rio Tinto increased by 2.6% and 1.2%, respectively.
In addition, shares of all four largest banks in the country fell in price: Commonwealth Bank – by 1.2%, ANZ Bank – by 0.2%, Westpac Banking – by 0.6% and National Australia Bank – by 0.7%.
Stock indices of Japan and Australia rose at the auctions on Monday, following the US stock market, which confidently strengthened at the end of last week.
At the same time, the exchanges of China, Hong Kong and South Korea were closed. China celebrates the autumnal equinox, while Korea celebrates Chuseok.
American stock indexes closed trading on Friday with active growth, ending the first week of the last four in positive territory. Investors followed the statements of the world’s central banks and signals about global inflation.
This week, market participants are waiting for data from the US Department of Labor on the dynamics of consumer prices in August, which will be published on Tuesday, as well as data on industrial production, retail sales and capital investment in China in August, which will be released on Friday.
Meanwhile, outbreaks of coronavirus in China and the restrictive measures introduced in connection with them remain a cause for concern, writes MarketWatch.
The Japanese Nikkei 225 closed up 1.16%. The indicator reached its maximum value in two weeks.
The growth leaders among the components of the index are the shares of retailer Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd (+4.7%), providing online medical services M3 Inc. (+3.9%) and rail and bus operator Keisei Electric Railway Co. (+3.6%).
Asia’s largest clothing retailer Fast Retailing rose 2.3%, while automaker Nissan Motor Co. – by 2.45%.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.02%.
The market value of the world’s largest mining companies BHP and Rio Tinto increased by 3.5% and 1.8%, respectively.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia rose 0.8%, Westpac Banking Corp. – by 1.04%, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. – by 1.35%.
Since July 5, Australia has marked tariffs on Ukrainian imports of goods, in addition to alcohol, fuel and tobacco, as a support package for a year, according to the website of the Australian Department of Trade and Tourism.
As indicated by the agency, we are talking about reducing tariffs from 5% to zero for a period of 12 months for a number of goods that are produced or produced in Ukraine. At the same time, it is clarified that duties equivalent to excises remain in force, for example, those that apply to fuel, alcohol and tobacco products.
According to the report, such measures from Australia and other states support the economy of Ukraine and expand its trading opportunities, and they are also important for Ukraine’s recovery in the near and long term.
According to the report, in 2021, Ukrainian exports to Australia amounted to $122 million.
Australian Prime Minister Entino Albenizi announced that Ukraine will be provided with additional military-technical assistance worth $100 million.
“Today we are announcing an additional $100 million in military-technical assistance. In total, we have already provided $390 million,” he said Sunday at a briefing in Kyiv after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We also provide an additional 14 armored personnel carriers and 20 Bushmaster armored vehicles. Thus, the total number of Bushmasters is 60 units,” he said.
According to the prime minister, Australia will also provide additional military equipment, drones.
“We will also provide additional assistance to the border troops of Ukraine,” he said.
According to the prime minister, “we will also reduce duties on Ukrainian goods. We will join the work of the International Court of Justice, announce additional sanctions and travel bans against 16 Russian ministers and big businessmen.”
Australia, according to the prime minister, will also ban the import of Russian gold.
The Ukrainian delegation during the WTO ministerial conference held about two dozen bilateral talks on possible trade liberalization and removal of existing barriers, in particular, in trade in agricultural products, Deputy Economy Minister – Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka said.
“The main conclusion is that the world believes in Ukraine and is ready to open markets for Ukrainian products. This means that the world believes in our victory over the aggressor,” he wrote on Facebook after the conference.
Kachka also said that Ukraine has sent a request to the European Free Trade Association (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) to update the free trade agreement, and it will be considered next week within the framework of the EFTA institute.
According to the trade representative, he discussed further steps to liberalize trade, having carried out preparatory work right at the conference, with Canadian Minister of International Trade Mary Ng.
Kachka added that he agreed with the Minister of Trade of Australia in a few days after the conference to discuss in detail the possibilities of liberalizing bilateral trade (GSP and FTA).
The Ukrainian trade representative also said that he had discussed the conclusion of an agreement on digital trade with UK Secretary for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
“The same issue – trade liberalization and digital trade – were relevant in a conversation with the Minister of Trade of Singapore. Singapore is ready to become a hub for trade in Ukrainian products in Asia,” Kachka added.
According to him, at a meeting with the Minister of Trade of Senegal, he emphasized that Ukraine is doing everything to increase exports and feed Africa.
“Senegal is chairing the African Union this year and their understanding of the true causes of food problems is very important,” the Ukrainian trade representative said.
AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN, NORWAY, SWITZERLAND, TRADE LIBERALIZATION
On Monday, April 18, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denys Monastyrsky met foreign rescue colleagues who arrived in Borodyanka (Kyiv region).
According to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, 11 professional rescuers from the United States, Australia and Germany have expressed a desire to come to Ukraine on a volunteer basis and help Ukrainian rescuers. In the near future, 1 more Polish representative will join the team.
It is noted that now they will work in Borodyanka, where they will be involved in dismantling the rubble and deblocking buildings.
