In a notable rebound, Asian stocks surged on Thursday, marking their most significant gains in a month, while the dollar stabilized and bond markets found equilibrium. This respite in market activity prompted investors to reassess the outlook for interest rates.
Following a recent decline in response to demand concerns and a lack of immediate geopolitical responses to Iran’s recent attack on Israel, oil prices found support after experiencing their sharpest drop in two-and-a-half months. Analysts indicate that while there’s apprehension, there’s no expectation for significant new sanctions on Iranian oil, which constitutes approximately 3% of global output.
The rally in Asian stocks was led by a 1% rise in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and a notable 2% gain in South Korea’s Kospi. Although these indexes remain down for both the week and the month thus far, the positive momentum signals a potential shift in sentiment. In Japan, the Nikkei rose by 0.3%, seeking to recover from its 3.6% drop for the week, marking its most substantial weekly decline since 2022.
Meanwhile, futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 surged by 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively, indicating a positive start for U.S. markets. European futures remained flat.
The dollar, having retreated from recent highs, saw stability amidst news of a trilateral agreement between the U.S., Japan, and Korea to closely consult on foreign exchange matters. This development suggests the possibility of intervention to moderate further dollar appreciation in Asia.
While short-term interest rate expectations in the U.S. remained relatively unchanged, selling of longer-dated bonds subsided, leading to a rally in Asia’s bond markets. Ten-year Japanese government bond yields fell by 2 basis points to 0.86%, while ten-year Treasury yields dropped by 1.6 bps to 4.569%.
Market analysts caution against overreaction, viewing the recent movements in yields and the dollar as minor pullbacks from extended trends. Attention remains focused on developments in bonds and the dollar, with oil prices expected to stabilize barring further escalations in the Middle East.
Additionally, key earnings reports from companies like Blackstone and Netflix, coupled with U.S. jobless claims data and remarks from central bankers, are poised to influence market sentiment later in the day. As markets await these catalysts, the ongoing narrative surrounding interest rates and geopolitical tensions continues to shape investor behavior.