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Asian stocks markets fall amid unease over US budget battle, Italy election

By: Joe McDonald, The Associated Press

Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 at 9:37 PM | Comments: 0

People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Japanese stocks led Asian markets higher Monday, jumping on a report that the prime minister's pick for the next central bank governor will be a strong advocate of loose monetary policy aimed at reviving the moribund economy. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

BEIJING, China - Asian stock markets fell Tuesday amid anxiety about impending U.S. government spending cuts and the uncertain outcome of Italy's general election.

Oil dropped below $93 a barrel on concern about possible setbacks in all the major economic regions.

Japan's Nikkei 225 shed 1.4 per cent to 11,502.30 while China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index added 0.2 per cent to 2,329.07. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.6 per cent to 22,693.86 and Taipei, Seoul and Sydney also suffered declines.

Investors were spooked by the spectre of automatic U.S. spending cuts that hit this week and political instability in Italy following a general election.

In Asia, Chinese markets have drifted after Beijing ordered new efforts to cool housing prices, prompting fears of tighter monetary policy that might slow a gradual economic recovery. Investors also were dismayed by a survey that showed February factory activity slowing.

"As all three major economic areas face uncertainty, risk aversion has returned," said Credit Agricole CIB economist Dariusz Kowalczyk in a report.

Markets were volatile Monday amid uncertainty about the outcome of Italy's election. Exit polls suggested a centre-left coalition might be able to form a government. But later polls showed a centre-right group led by former Premier Silvio Berlusconi might win control of the upper house — a scenario that might produce political deadlock and force new elections.

Berlusconi has promised to roll back some of the austerity measures introduced by technocrat prime minister Mario Monti. Heavily indebted Italy's stability is considered crucial to the future of the euro currency bloc and European leaders want Rome to enforce Monti's spending controls.

On Wall Street, the Dow fell 216.40 points, or 1.6 per cent, to 13,784.17, its biggest drop since Nov. 7. The S&P 500 fell 27.75 points, or 1.8 per cent, to 1,487.85, falling below 1,500 for the first time in three weeks. The Nasdaq composite dropped 45.57 points, or 1.4 per cent, to 3,116.25

In China, investors were dismayed when HSBC Corp. said Monday a preliminary version of its purchasing managers index showed Chinese manufacturing unexpectedly fell in February to a four-month low and export orders declined.

China is recovering from its deepest slowdown since the 2008 but analysts say the rebound will be gradual and could be jeopardized if trade or investment falls.

Investors also are awaiting new U.S. data and remarks by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.

Last week, minutes from the Fed's latest policy meeting showed concern over monetary stimulus, stoking jitters in the markets.

In currency markets, the dollar weakened to 92.55 yen from the previous day's 92.59.

The yen has fallen by about 20 per cent in recent weeks, helping to boost the Nikkei on hopes of stronger exports.

Benchmark crude for April delivery was down 57 cents to $92.54 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract settled Monday at $93.11.

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