Dec 10 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian
markets.
The Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision takes
center stage on Tuesday, while debate intensifies over the
likely success - or otherwise - of China's surprise announcement
that it plans to implement looser monetary and fiscal policy.
The RBA is widely expected to keep its cash rate unchanged
at 4.35%, so the focus will be on when Governor Michele Bullock
signals the easing cycle might start.
Economists polled by Reuters reckon it will be some time in
the second quarter, and Aussie money markets are pointing to a
quarter point cut on April 1.
Sentiment across Asia may be dented by Wall Street's slide
on Monday, but investors continue to digest the first shift in
China's broad policy stance since 2010.
The Politburo's recommendation that a "more proactive"
fiscal policy and "moderately loose" monetary policy be followed
may not be on the same scale as Mario Draghi's famous "whatever
it takes" pledge to save the euro in 2012. But it could still be
hugely significant in China's battle to emerge from the property
bust, deflation and sub-par growth.
China bulls argue that, following the blitz of fiscal and
market-supporting liquidity measures earlier this year,
Beijing's commitment to get the economy back on track can no
longer be questioned.
Although it will take time for policies to take effect, the
dial has definitely shifted, so investors would do well to get
in and buy Chinese equities now.
Those of a more cautious persuasion will say actions speak
louder than words, and point out that Beijing has promised much
in recent years but always under-delivered. Unless Beijing
assumes the banking sector's bad loans and bails out the banks,
nothing will materially change.
Chinese stocks are still considerably higher than they were
before the first stimulus and market support measures were
announced in September, and billionaire hedge fund manager David
Tepper's subsequent "buy everything" call on China. China's
economic surprises index has bounced back too.
But economists remain skeptical over the 2025 growth outlook
and Chinese bond yields are sinking - the 10-year yield is below
2% for the first time on record, and the 30-year yield is below
the Japanese equivalent for the first time in around 20 years.
Hardly the signs of recovery.
In addition, any optimism may be tempered by the latest
inflation figures which suggest Beijing's efforts to revive
economic activity and demand are having a limited impact so far.
Sino-US trade tensions are bubbling up again too. China said
on Monday it has launched an investigation into Nvidia Corp over
suspected violations of the country's anti-monopoly law. The
move is widely seen as a retaliatory shot against Washington's
latest curbs on the Chinese chip sector.
Here are key developments that could provide more direction
to markets on Tuesday:
- Australia's interest rate decision
- China trade (November)
- Taiwan's TSMC monthly sales announcement