ADVERTISEMENT

Time for `Reality' Check on Trade as Asia Rally Fades

Time for `Reality Check' on Trade as Asia Stock Rally Fades

(Bloomberg) -- Sure, the trade war between the U.S. and China seems to be easing. But, with few details after three days of mid-level talks, other than the promise of more discussion, equity investors are taking a pause.

Chinese officials described the negotiations as “extensive, in-depth and detailed.” The U.S. noted a commitment from the Chinese to buy more agricultural goods, energy and manufactured products, while pushing for a way to make sure China delivers on its promises.

For the stock bulls out there, it was good while it lasted. The biggest five-day advance in the MSCI Asia Pacific Index since early November came to a halt Thursday, with equity markets across the region trading mixed. As investors assessed the latest developments, Japan’s Topix index fell 0.9 percent, while Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea and others moved less than 0.4 percent.

Time for `Reality' Check on Trade as Asia Rally Fades

“The trade optimism built over the last four trading days is facing a ‘reality check’ and Asian markets are giving up gains on disappointing trade statements,” said Margaret Yang, strategist at CMC Markets Singapore Pte. “Rising gold and yen suggest sentiment is turning to the cautious mode again, until more details of the trade talks are released to show concrete progression.”

With attention now shifting to the March 1 deadline set to reach an accord, investors are settling in for what may be months of uncertainty as the two sides inch their way toward a resolution.

Here’s a look at how other investors are evaluating the situation:

Encouraging Sign

The fact that talks have picked up a lot of speed over the past few days is an encouraging sign, said Adrian Zuercher, Asia Pacific chief investment officer at UBS Group AG’s wealth unit in Hong Kong. The extended cease-fire to March should help turn around some of the macro indicators that have gone negative, he added.

“We’ll probably look over the next couple of weeks to increase a bit more cyclicality of the portfolio,” he said. “There’s definitely a lot of value around.”

Superficial Deal?

Ross Cameron at Northcape Capital has held the view since last year that a short-term deal with China would be superficial and leave unresolved many underlying issues, such as intellectual property theft, cyber crime and currency manipulation -- they are too large to be addressed in a single agreement.

“It is prudent to avoid Chinese companies reliant on U.S. technology,” said the head of the Japan office. “The trade war has also temporarily distracted markets from a very serious slowdown in the Chinese economy.”

Chance of March Deal: 10%

For Chi Lo, senior economist for greater China at BNP Paribas Asset Management, there’s only a 10 percent chance for the best-case scenario of the two sides reaching an agreement by March to settle all major issues and roll back tariffs. The most likely result will be talks extending beyond March with no further tariff escalation, he said.

“We should see intense negotiations focusing on the list of 140-odd demands that the Treasury presented to China in the summer,” with some low-hanging fruit in market-access issues and China imports of U.S. products, he said.

Sensible Conclusion

Recent moves by China, such as the resumption of U.S. soy purchases, indicate the country is showing a lot of goodwill, said Khiem Do, head of Great China investments, global markets at Barings.

“There is a willingness to come to a sensible conclusion,” Do said. “No one will open champagne, but at least there is goodwill from both sides, and that is very important for investors and flows.”

Actively Investing

For Tetsuo Seshimo, a portfolio manager at Saison Asset Management who usually invests with a five-year view, volatile times like these are good opportunities to pick up stocks.

“We’re actively investing in equities,” he said. “The market is conscious of a lot of different risks, which means equities have become that much cheaper.”

A Long Way to Go

Market watchers, it’s probably worth buckling up for the long ride. That’s the message from Shane Oliver, Sydney-based head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital Investors Ltd. He added that “it’s going to take a lot of work to resolve these issues.”

“There will be periods like today where it looks like there wasn’t a lot of progress, there will be other periods where it looks like there is progress, so this issue will continue to wax and wane towards that deadline,” he said.

Stock-Market Summary

  • Japan’s Topix index down 0.9%; Nikkei 225 down 1.3%
  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index up 0.2%; Hang Seng China Enterprises up 0.4%; Shanghai Composite down 0.4%
  • Taiwan’s Taiex index down 0.2%
  • South Korea’s Kospi index little changed; Kospi 200 little changed
  • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 up 0.3%; New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 down 0.3%
  • India’s S&P BSE Sensex Index down 0.4%; NSE Nifty 50 down 0.4%
  • Singapore’s Straits Times Index up 0.7%; Malaysia’s KLCI up 0.7%; Philippine Stock Exchange up 0.8%; Jakarta Composite up 0.5%; Thailand’s SET down 0.4%; Vietnam’s VN Index up 0.1%

--With assistance from Abhishek Vishnoi, Livia Yap, Min Jeong Lee and Matthew Burgess.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eric Lam in Hong Kong at elam87@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Christopher Anstey at canstey@bloomberg.net, Divya Balji, Cecile Vannucci

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.