The major Asian indexes turned his back again, although the regional index registered an increase again after the data on the labor market in the U.S. on Friday exceeded expectations, boosting the outlook for profits to Asian exporters. The Regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.5 percent to 124.93 points, although the session was to increase and reached 1%, extending a series of positive last week.
In Japan the Nikkei 225 advanced 1.1% to 8 929.20 points, shares of Nikon Corp. jumped 11 percent to 2,604 yen after the maker of cameras and lenses raise its forecast for operating profit for the financial year ending on 31 March by 7.5% while those of Panasonic Corp. have added 6.3 percent to its value to 637 yen after the company announced that in the new financial year can be returned to profit from record losses for this. The shares of the largest automaker in the world by market capitalization Toyota Motor Corp. rose 3% to 2986 yen, but those of the semiconductor manufacturer Tokyo Electron Ltd. sank by 8.2 percent to 4,040 yen after it became clear that the net profit for the first nine months of the financial year are plummeted by 47% yoy.
The Chinese Shanghai SE Composite Index gained 0.03% minimum to 2 331.14 points, after it was announced that the International Monetary Fund has decreased its forecast for growth of the country this year to 8.25 percent on expectations for growth of 9% in September, but in Taiwan Taiex fell 0.7% to 7 687.98 points.
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The main indexes of the Asian markets were unable to form a general trend for the second time this week and backed by the regional index reached peak after weak quarterly reports of companies affected by the European debt crisis and the uncertain prospects for the U.S. economy. The Regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.1% to 124.41 points, shrinking profits for the week to 1.1%. In Japan the Nikkei 225 slid 0.5% to 8 831.93 points, stock manufacturer of glass Nippon Sheet Glass Co. fell by 12% to 132 yen after the company forecast a loss of 3 billion yen (about $ 40 million) for the financial year ending March 31 due to a decline in demand for its core European market and announced it would cut 3500 jobs, while those of the manufacturer of bicycle parts, Shimano Inc. fell 3.9 percent to 3795 yen.
The shares of Sony Corp. however, jumped 8.1 percent to ¥ 1,435 after being CEO of the company Kazuyo Hira said it will eliminate some of the divisions with poor results, to help rebuild it.
“Shares risen on expectations that the company will take the path of recovery”, said Makoto Sengoku, a market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Securities Co. “All the negative factors have already been shown (in price)”, he added. The Chinese Shanghai SE Composite Index rose 0.8 percent to 2 330.41 points, after it was reported that non-manufacturing sectors have expanded at a slower pace in January, sparking speculation that the central bank may take additional measures to support economic growth, but in Taiwan Taiex advanced 0.3% to 7 674.99 points.
“While growth in China slows down, landing will be hard”, said Zhang Lin, general manager at Shanghai River Fund Management Co. “He started loosening monetary policy and increasing market expectations for reducing the reserve requirements of banks. Shares are also cheap just now”, he added.
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The Asian markets reversed direction again after a record decline of recent weeks yesterday, registering increases in Friday’s session, as new applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. fell significantly, and the election of a new Greek Prime reduce fears that European debt crisis will not be withheld. The Regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8% to 116.89 points, 5 shares have added it to its value to every 4 that fell. The Japanese Nikkei 225 advanced 0.2% to 8 514.47 points, while stocks of the largest exporter of consumer electronics Sony Corp. rose 2.4 percent to 1,354 yen, while those of the largest manufacturer of cameras in the world, Canon Inc. value increased by 2.1% to 3435 yen. The shares of Olympus Corp. however, lost 5% of its value to 460 yen after the Japanese Financial Services Agency announced that it will join the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the investigation of illegal payments under the company’s acquisitions.
The Chinese Shanghai SE Composite Index rose 0.06 percent to 2 481.08 points, while Taiwan’s TAIEX gained 0.8 percent to 7 367.29 points. The Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.9 percent to 19 137.20 points, while stocks of the largest processing company for oil in Asia China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. have added 3.1 percent to its value to 8.28 HK dollars after its headquarters China Petrochemical Corp. agreed to pay 3.54 billion dollars for a 30% share in the Brazilian division of Galp Energia, which will provide access to its largest habitat in the western hemisphere, found after 1976
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The major Asian indexes continued to sink before the vote of confidence in the Italian Parliament, which will show whether the country’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has enough support to implement austerity measures. The regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.8% to 118.89 points after repeated oscillation between profit and loss and per share, which climbed its price corresponding to 2 shares a decline. The Japanese Nikkei 225 slid 1.3% to 8 655.51 points, after the scandal with Olympus Corp. weighed on investor sentiment, and the company’s shares tumbled 29 percent to 734 yen after it admitted to hide losses from unreasonably high fees for consultants in the acquisition of Gyrus Group Plc in 2008. Several financial companies are also affected by the scandal, as shares of Nomura Holdings Inc. value decreased by 15% to 245 yen, and those of their competitors by Daiwa Securities Group Inc. fell by 7% to 251 yen.
“Statement of Olympus leaves a feeling of suspicion of the Japanese stock market as a whole, prompting investors to sell shares of financial companies”, said Masao Muraki of Tokyo branch of Deutsche Securities Inc. The shares of Sony Corp. lost 4.1 percent of its value to 1346 yen, while those of the manufacturer of equipment for chips Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co. fell 3.8 percent to 560 yen after the company lowered its forecast for net profit for the year by 52% to 10 billion yen (128 million dollars), arguing that the chip manufacturers can reduce their capital costs.

The main indexes of the Asian markets ended today’s session with the promotion, overcoming the initial losses resulting from uncertainty about the outcome of negotiations on the European debt crisis, amid speculation that China may loosen its monetary policy. The Regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell less than 1% to 119.31 points after losing 1.1 percent, with about four shares it increased its value against every 3 that fell, but 6 of 10 subgroups in the index registered a retreat from previous positions. The Japanese Nikkei 225 remained the only loser among the major indexes with a 0.2% drop to 8 748.47 points, while in the session to yield 1.4%, while shares of Honda Motor Co. fell 0.6 percent to 2,329 yen, while those of the manufacturer of endoscopes Olympus Corp. sank by 7.6% to 1,099 yen after the company was placed in the Watch List of trading its shares on the stock exchange on margin in Tokyo because of illegal payments scandal adviser worth 687 million dollars. The Chinese Shanghai SE Composite Index advanced 0.7 percent to 2 427.48 points, after the country’s prime minister Wen Jiabao said that economic policy will be adjusted precisely according to need “at the appropriate time and the required level” and the Ministry of Industry said they were looking at “stimulating policies” for small business against the threat to growth posed by the global slowdown.
In Hong Kong Hang Seng rose 0.5 percent to 19 066.50 points, shares of developer Country Garden Holdings Co. rose 3.6 percent to 2.86 HK dollars, while those of China’s largest mining company Aluminum Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. have added 3.9 percent to its value to 4.05 HK dollars after it announced a return to profit in third quarter.
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The Asian markets continued their upward movement, bringing the regional index to its biggest two-day rise for the past two years after the optimism that Europe will be able to keep the banking sector of the debt crisis brighten prospects for credit institutions and exporters. The regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 2% to 112.81 points, but ended the week with a loss of 0.3%. The Japanese Nikkei 225 gained 1% to 8 605.62 points, shares of the largest publicly traded local financial institution by market capitalization Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group have added 0.6 percent to its value to 328 yen and those of the largest Asian automaker Toyota rose 0.4 percent to 2,549 yen. The shares of Sony fell, however its value by 3.7% to 1,415 yen after the Wall Street Journal reported that the manufacturer of consumer electronics is closer to an agreement to buy the share of Ericsson AB in their joint venture for production of mobile phones, citing sources close to the deal, Nomura downgraded the company. The Chinese markets remained closed all week because of holidays in the country, and Taiwan TAIEX index rose 1.1 percent to 7 211.96 points. In Hong Kong Hang Seng advanced 3.1 percent to 17,707 points, shares of Hutchison Whampoa rose 10.5 percent to 63.15 HK dollars after the company determined its activity in Europe as “very strong” and those of largest Chinese company to explore oil reserves in offshore Cnooc rose in value by 4.4 percent to 12.84 HK dollars.
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The Asian markets slipped earlier in the week, a regional index ended at its lowest level of the year amid speculation that Greece may be near bankruptcy, which support the fears that the crisis will spread to the banking system. The regional index MSCI Asia Pacific sank 2.3 percent to 118.03 points to its lowest level since August 2010 as banks and mining companies presented the worst among the 10 subgroups with his sweeping over 2%. The Japanese Nikkei 225 lost 2.3 percent to 8 535.67 points to its lowest level since April 2009, while shares of Suzuki Motor Corp. value decreased by 2.8% to 1,484 yen after the German automaker Volkswagen AG announced that the Japanese company violated terms of their agreement with the decision to buy engines from Fiat SpA. Later than Suzuki said it would ask Volkswagen to sell their shares as they believe the alliance between their two companies adversely affect the independence of management.
“While Europe is divided, do not expect a clear indication of whether Greece will go bankrupt or will be rescued”, said Yoshinori Nagano, chief strategist at Daiwa Asset Management Co. in Tokyo.
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The indexes of the Asian exchanges ended the week at different territory before the upcoming speech by the President of the U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke at a meeting of central bank governors and in anticipation of data expected to show slowing growth in the largest economy in the world. The regional MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 4% to 120.18 points after repeatedly veering between profit and loss and about 10 shares in it fell in value against every 9 that rose. This is the first weekly increase for the index after 4 consecutive weeks of decline. The Japanese Nikkei 225 advanced 0.3 percent to 8 797.78 points, after the country’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan resigned after only 14 months in office. Shares of the maker of computer memory chips, Elpida Memory Inc. jumped 18 percent to 535 yen after the price of its output rose for the first time in almost five months.
“The investors are completely booked today, prices change little”, said Naoki Fujiwara of Shinkin Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. “The market is somewhat hesitant before the meeting. They do not expect to announce significant monetary loosening”, he added. The Chinese Shanghai SE Composite Index fell 0.1% minimum to 2 612.19 points.
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Immediately after the Standard & Poor’s announced its historic decision to downgrade the U.S. last Friday, the official Chinese agency Xinhua published a scathing editorial condemning the wastefulness of Western countries and their “addiction to debt”.
“The U.S. government had to put up with the painful fact that the good old days when you can simply borrow enough money to get out of the paste, which is mixed already irretrievably lost”, the Chinese agency, pointing out that China is the largest foreign creditor of the United States. The unspoken implication behind the fierce criticism that China, unlike the U.S. is a country that understands “the general principle that everyone should live according to their income”. Indeed, at the end of 2010 declared gross debt of the central Chinese Government was only 17% of gross domestic product (GDP) of the country – the debt burden much lower than the U.S. (87%), Britain (80%) and Japan (210%). Late last year, S & P, and Moody’s raised the credit rating of China, S & P refer to the moderate leverage, strong exports and rosy outlook for the Chinese economy as a whole. The Chinese government is far from sober, and chaste borrower to be submitted. When assessing the actual debt situation in the country, rating agencies typically use an indicator known as the “general government debt.” This includes debt obligations of the central and local governments as well as those of social security funds. Debt burden in most developed countries like the U.S. is estimated in this way.
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The market participants reacted with mass sales of shares of the surprise decision to lower the credit rating of USA. Yesterday the indexes registered in the Middle East severely reduced and now scarlet Bay Asia. Against this background, oil prices sank by nearly 4% and gold literally shoots, going over 1700 dollars an ounce. The gold is rising by more than 52 dollars, or 3.2 per cent at the beginning of a new week, reaching hitherto unseen 1705 dollars an ounce. At the opposite pole is the lightest crude oil, whose price fell by 3.8 percent to 83.64 dollars per barrel. The Asian trading session began with mass sales. The main index in South Korea – KRX 100 drops by 5 percent and Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 2.3%. In China and Hong Kong’s leading index – Shanghai Composite, respectively, and Hang Seng, erased a 3.7 and 4 per cent of its value.