Shanghai volatile as most Asian markets move higher

[HONG KONG] Shanghai stocks swung sharply in early trade on Tuesday fuelled by ongoing worries about China's economy while most other Asian markets enjoyed a small bounce a day after suffering another painful sell off.

Having sunk more than five per cent Monday - taking its losses this year to 15 per cent already - Shanghai rallied in the first few minutes before quickly slipping into the red then bouncing back.

The swift movements have become common on the volatile index, which has been hammered by a string of weak economic data out of China, while authorities' bungling of last week's rout has also sowed doubt.

Beijing's weakening of its yuan currency - raising questions about the opaqueness of its exchange rate policy - also played a key role in the equities downturn.

That has in turn led to massive losses around the world, with several major bourses suffering their worst start to a year on record.

"Worries about China persist," Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy in Sydney at AMP Capital Investors, told Bloomberg News.

And he warned: "It's too early to say that we've found the bottom until we see more stability in the Chinese currency and until we see more confidence regarding global growth."

Shanghai was up 0.2 per cent in mid-morning trade, while Hong Kong, which also tumbled Monday, was up 0.6 per cent.

Tokyo, which was closed Monday for a holiday, slipped 2.12 per cent by lunch as dealers there played catch-up with the rest of the region and the yen strengthened against the dollar.

The Japanese unit has risen more than two per cent on the greenback so far this year.

Sydney added 0.3 per cent and Seoul was 0.4 per cent higher.

US markets provided some positivity, with the Dow and S&P 500 moving higher. However, investors remain on edge over China, while oil prices head towards US$31 a barrel, hit by a supply glut, anaemic demand and a weak global economy.

Crude slipped below US$32 for the first time in 12 years on signs key producer Iran could be allowed to export the commodity within weeks as the West prepares to lift embargoes after a deal over its nuclear programme.

On Tuesday morning US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was down 0.7 per cent and Brent lost 0.6 per cent.

AFP