Asian, European markets drop as inflation spectre hangs

HONG KONG: Asian and European markets mostly fell Tuesday as investors extended recent sell-offs owing to long-running fears that the expected global recovery will force central banks to wind down their easy-money programmes earlier than hoped.

While Wall Street provided a positive lead with all three main indexes posting healthy gains, there is a reluctance on trading floors to push a year-long rally any further, while a stuttering vaccine roll-out and new lockdowns in Europe are adding to the angst.

Focus this week will be on the first joint congressional testimony by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who will answer questions on their policy response to the pandemic.

It comes as markets are rattled by a sharp rise in US Treasury yields in recent weeks that have been fuelled by bets that the forecast strong bounce in economic activity this year will fan inflation and force the bank to lift interest rates before 2024, as it has indicated.

The pair have repeatedly said they do not see the spike in inflation lasting and will maintain ultra-loose monetary policies -- including record-low rates -- until they have a grip on unemployment, and price rises are above two percent for an extended period.

Also on the radar this week is the auction of seven-year US Treasuries, which will be followed closely after last month's weak sale sparked a sharp sell-off in bonds that sent yields soaring -- yields go in the opposite direction to prices -- and sparked a global market panic.

"The problem for risk markets is inflation will be an ongoing debate for another six to 12 months, if not longer," warned Axi strategist Stephen Innes. "So, expect to remain stuck in the rough and tumble inflation 'lather, rinse and repeat' cycle as the rising tides of inflation ebb and flow."

Hong Kong lost more than one percent and Seoul fell one percent, while Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei and Bangkok were also in the red.

Mumbai, Singapore, Manila and Wellington rose.

London, Paris and Frankfurt fell at the open.

Oil markets extended recent losses on worries about the demand outlook as European countries including Germany and France reimpose strict containment measures and struggle to get their vaccine programmes rolling properly, while the virus is picking up in other parts of the world.

On currency markets, the Turkish lira stabilised a day after plunging in reaction to news that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sacked the country's market-friendly central bank chief, raising concerns about another round of financial turbulence.

Key figures around 0820 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 percent at 28,995.92 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 1.3 percent at 28,497.38 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.9 percent at 3,411.51 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.6 percent at 6,683.21

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1914 from $1.1930 at 2100 GMT

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3843 from $1.3862

Euro/pound: UP at 86.07 pence from 86.05 pence

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.74 yen from 108.83 yen

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.2 percent at $60.80 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 1.2 percent at $63.83 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 32,731.20 (close)