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Asian Equities Face Headwinds as Fed Hikes, Cuts Growth Forecast

Investors are priming for Asian equity benchmarks to mirror declines in US stocks after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and reduced its economic growth forecast.

Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. The Federal Reserve downshifted its rapid pace of interest-rate hikes while signaling that borrowing costs, now the highest since 2007, will rise more than investors anticipate as central bankers seek to ensure inflation keeps cooling.
Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during a news conference following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. The Federal Reserve downshifted its rapid pace of interest-rate hikes while signaling that borrowing costs, now the highest since 2007, will rise more than investors anticipate as central bankers seek to ensure inflation keeps cooling.

Investors are priming for Asian equity benchmarks to mirror declines in US stocks after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and reduced its economic growth forecast.

Kerry Craig, global market strategist for JPMorgan Asset Management:

“The fabled Fed pivot may take longer than the market had been expecting. US equities didn’t react favorably to the outcome of the meeting and that sentiment is likely to flow into APAC markets,” he said. “For APAC, the China reopening story remains a tailwind but the degree that this will be able to offset the higher rates and still support USD remains to be seen.”

Kellie Wood, deputy head of fixed-income at Schroders Australia:

“Despite the upgrade to the dots, the end point is drawing closer. As we move into early next year the data should start to suggest that a recession is approaching. It will take some time for inflation to moderate to a level where the US Fed is comfortable with easing policy,” she said. “With the market already priced for a ~5% cash rate in the next 6 months, the dots are just catching up to what the market has priced for the US policy path.” 

Tomo Kinoshita, global market strategist at Invesco Asset Management in Tokyo:

“US shares have seen limited falls, indicating that financial markets are not wholeheartedly believing in that hawkishness, perhaps because some Fed policymakers have talked about the possibility of rate cuts already,” he said. “Long-term bond yields appeared to have peaked out, which is a sign investors are now worried about a recession.”

Anthony Doyle head of investment strategy for Firetrail Investments:

“Asian markets will take their lead from the US markets,” he said. “The theme of today for Asian markets is defensives holding up the most, so sectors like health care, food and beverages, and transport. Those sectors that were hurt the most, cyclicals or consumer-exposed — autos, tech materials and semiconductors — were down the most.”

Matthew Simpson, senior market analyst at City Index:

“Softer inflation and the prospects of lower Fed rates in 2024 pushed the dollar to new lows, and that’s a win for emerging FX. China’s relaxed Covid restrictions taking precedence over rising cases could allow the yuan to strengthen further, so we continue to like dollar/offshore yuan shorts below the 7.0100 area. Dollar/yen has held above the December 2nd low and seemingly building a base above 135, so we’re on guard for a counter-trend bounce and for a rally to 140.”

Chamath De Silva, senior portfolio manager for BetaShares Holdings:

“USD continues to weaken, which should be supportive for Asian stocks at the margin,” he said. “Equities probably didn’t like that Powell emphasized that financial conditions need to reflect the Fed’s intent and probably explains the modest weakness in US stocks.”

Joseph Capurso, senior currency strategist for Commonwealth Bank:

“AUD/USD temporarily dipped by 1%. Higher commodity prices have supported AUD against the USD and the other major currencies.  Now that AUD/USD has broken through resistance, 0.6850 could form a support level,” he said.

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