Asia: Markets mixed as inflation spectre hangs

[HONG KONG] Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday as investors struggled to build momentum following recent sell-offs owing to long-running fears that the expected global recovery will force central banks to wind down their easy-money programmes earlier than hoped.

While Wall Street provided a positive lead with all three main indexes posting healthy gains, there is a reluctance on trading floors to push a year-long rally any further, while a stuttering vaccine rollout and new lockdowns in Europe are adding to the angst.

Focus this week will be on the first joint congressional testimony by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who will answer questions on their policy response to the pandemic.

It comes as markets are rattled by a sharp rise in US Treasury yields in recent weeks that have been fuelled by bets that the forecast strong bounce in economic activity this year will fan inflation and force the bank to lift interest rates before 2024, as it has indicated.

The pair have repeatedly said they do not see the spike in inflation lasting and will maintain ultra-loose monetary policies - including record-low rates - until they have a grip on unemployment, and price rises are above two percent for an extended period.

Also on the radar this week is the auction of seven-year US Treasuries, which will be followed closely after last month's weak sale sparked a sharp sell-off in bonds that sent yields soaring - prices go in the opposite direction to prices - and sparked a global market panic.

"The problem for risk markets is inflation will be an ongoing debate for another six to 12 months, if not longer," warned Axi strategist Stephen Innes. "So, expect to remain stuck in the rough and tumble inflation 'lather, rinse and repeat' cycle as the rising tides of inflation ebb and flow."

Hong Kong and Shanghai fell more than one per cent, while Sydney and Seoul also dropped.

There were gains in Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok and Wellington.

Oil markets extended recent losses on worries about the demand outlook as European countries including Germany and France reimpose strict containment measures and that struggle to get their vaccine programme rolling properly, while the virus is picking up in other parts of the world.

On currency markets, the Turkish lira stabilised a day after plunging in reaction to news that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sacked the country's market-friendly central bank chief, raising concerns about another round of financial turbulence.

AFP