Asian shares fall amid China’s asset-bubble warning

Asia stocks dropped on Tuesday and European equity futures fell as a senior Chinese official expressed wariness about the risk of asset bubbles in foreign markets and a recent bond market sell-off still weighed on investor sentiment. European markets appeared set for a lower open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.38% and London’s FTSE dropping 0.4%. Those of Germany’s DAX fell 0.49%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.33%, giving up early gains. Japan’s Nikkei was down 0.85% as some investors booked profits on defensive energy and utility shares before the end of the fiscal year this month.

Australian shares ended marginally lower on Tuesday as the market appeared to show a muted response towards the central bank’s decision to stand pat on interest rates, as expected. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.4% to 6,762.3 at the close of trade, having risen as much as 1% during the session. Shares in mainland China and Hong Kong reversed course to trade lower in the afternoon session after a top regulatory official expressed concerns about the risk of bubbles bursting in foreign markets, and said Beijing is studying effective measures to manage capital inflows to prevent turbulence in the domestic market.

Chinese blue-chips dipped 1.78% while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1.45%. Investors now eye China’s annual session of parliament beginning on Friday, which is expected to chart a course for economic recovery and unveil a five-year plan to fend off stagnation. U.S. stocks rallied overnight, with the S&P 500 posting its best day in nearly nine months, as bond markets calmed after a month-long selloff.

U.S. stocks were roiled last week when a sell-off in Treasuries pushed the 10-year Treasury yield to a one-year high of 1.614%. The 10-year yield was edging lower in after trade at 1.4119%.

A stronger greenback weighed on gold, and the precious metal was on the defensive at $1,715.8400 an ounce on Tuesday. The exuberance in risk assets did not help energy markets. Oil prices fell more than 1% overnight after data showed China’s factory activity growth slipped to a nine-month low in February, owing in part to disruptions over the Lunar New Year holiday. There were also fears among energy investors that OPEC may increase global supply following a meeting this week.

Asian shares fall amid China’s asset-bubble warning, Reuters, Mar 2