Asia stocks up, dollar sags as Fed tempers expectations for rate rise

An index of Asian shares gained on Thursday while the dollar eased slightly after the Federal Reserve signaled that interest rates would rise more slowly than markets had expected.

Spreadbetters, however, expected Greek debt matters to reclaim the spotlight in Europe ahead of the euro zone finance ministers’ meeting later in the day. They forecast a lower open for Britain’s FTSE .FTSE, Germany’s DAX .GDAXI and France’s CAC .FCHI.

After a closely-watched two-day meeting, the Fed said the economy was likely strong enough to support an interest rate increase by the end of the year. But it lowered its forecasts for 2015 economic growth because of a weak start to the year and reduced its federal funds rate forecast.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS climbed about 0.3 percent, while Japan’s Nikkei .N225 skidded 0.8 percent to a one-week low as the yen gained against the dollar.

“The market is rather concerned about the U.S. economic view in the future,” said Masaru Hamasaki, head of the market and investment information department at Amundi Japan.

South Korean shares were poised to post their sharpest daily gain in four weeks, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index .KS11 rising 0.7 percent.

Some of the region’s other shares did not fare as well, with Chinese shares coming under pressure from a string of initial public offerings, while Australian stocks .AXJO shed 1.6 percent amid selling by investors before closing their books at the end of the month.

On Wednesday, Wall Street shares inched higher in a choppy session following the Fed’s statements, with the Dow .DJI rising 0.17 percent and S&P .SPX gaining 0.2 percent.

The Fed’s stance had tripped up some investors who had expected the central bank to signal a rate hike as early as September.

U.S. Treasury yields, which had reached eight-month highs last week, fell back and decreased the dollar’s appeal, pressuring it against many of its peers. The benchmark 10-year note yield US10YT=RR fell to 2.32 percent from 2.39 percent before the Fed statement was released, and was at 2.27 percent in Asian trading.

The dollar index .DXY was down 0.2 percent at 94.088 after losing 0.8 percent in the previous session.

The dollar skidded about 0.3 percent on the day to 123.01 yen JPY=, down from its overnight high of 124.465 yen, while the euro EUR= rose about 0.2 percent to $1.1362, adding to the previous day’s 0.8 percent rise.

“Expectations were high going into the monetary policy announcement and unfortunately for dollar bulls hoping for a sharp upside breakout, (Fed Chair) Janet Yellen failed to deliver,” Kathy Lien, managing director of FX Strategy for BK Asset Management, wrote.

“Investors were hoping for a clear road map for lift off but she did not even mention that the chance of a September rate hike has strengthened.”

It was a different story for sterling, which soared overnight after robust British wage growth data supported the case for a rate hike by the Bank of England.

The pound touched a new seven-month high of $1.5852 GBP=D4 in Asia, and was last at $1.5836.

In commodities trading, crude oil futures slipped after U.S. government data showed that gasoline stocks and distillate inventories rose last week, although falls were checked by the weaker dollar and continuing fears of unrest in the Middle East.

Brent crude LCOc1 dipped 0.3 percent to $63.71 a barrel, while U.S. crude CLc1 also fell about 0.5 percent to $59.65.

Spot gold, another beneficiary of the greenback’s weakening following the Fed meeting, was up about 0.2 percent at $1,187.35 an ounce XAU=.

 Source: Reuters