Markets

Stocks Fall, Havens Gain as Korea Tensions FlareStocks Fall, Havens Gain as Korea Tensions Flare

Published

7 years ago

September 4, 2017

Stocks Fall, Havens Gain as Korea Tensions FlareStocks Fall, Havens Gain as Korea Tensions Flare

Stocks fell and gold and the yen climbed as geopolitical tensions flared up again, with U.S. president Donald Trump weighing new economic sanctions that could target China after a nuclear test Sunday by North Korea.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index declined, with banks and technology companies bearing the brunt as all industry sectors moved into the red after a report that Pyongyang is preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile heightened investors’ unease. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was on track for the biggest drop since Trump’s vow to return nuclear threats with “fire and fury” in early August. S&P index futures also fell, while most European government bonds advanced and the yen and Swiss franc led currency gains. Industrial metals including copper and nickel extended a rally.

The White House warned any nation doing business with Kim Jong Un’s regime would be met with economic sanctions and trade embargoes, and his defense chief said the U.S. has “many military options.” North Korea said Sunday it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb with “unprecedentedly big power.” The test, the first since Trump took office, is a new hurdle for markets that have proven resilient to recent bouts of tension on the Korean peninsula.

“Expect some short-term risk-aversion trades,” Citigroup Inc. economists led by Johanna Chua wrote in a client note. “But such market moves tend to be short-lived, as typically tensions defuse quickly. So unless the global response to this test raises the probability of a military strike or North Korean regime collapse (both unlikely), this time may play out similarly.”

Some investors are choosing to hold more cash in the face of increasing geopolitical instability. Nader Naeimi, who heads a dynamic investment fund at AMP Capital in Sydney and helps manage about $110 billion, has about 30 percent of his holdings in cash, while Chicago-based Ariel Investments is holding more cash versus its target in the event a pullback creates buying opportunities.

“While today’s fall in risk assets might not be deep, the process is one of an incremental rise in market volatility,” Naeimi said. This “will culminate in a deeper-than-expected correction,” he said.

Stocks

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index sank 0.6 percent as of 9:40 a.m. in London.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index dipped 0.3 percent.
Germany’s DAX Index fell 0.5 percent.
The MSCI All-Country World Index sank 0.2 percent, the largest dip in more than two weeks.
Futures on the S&P 500 Index declined 0.4 percent.

Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index dipped 0.2 percent.
The euro gained 0.5 percent to $1.1915.
The British pound was little changed at $1.2943.
The Japanese yen jumped 0.7 percent to 109.45 per dollar, the largest climb in more than three weeks.
The Swiss franc increased 0.8 percent to $0.9574.

Bonds

Germany’s 10-year yield declined two basis points to 0.36 percent.
Britain’s 10-year yield dipped one basis point to 1.04 percent.

Commodities

Gold gained 1 percent to $1,338.16 an ounce, the strongest in a year.
West Texas Intermediate crude decreased 0.1 percent to $47.22 a barrel.
Copper advanced 0.8 percent to $3.14 a pound, the highest in about three years.
Nickel advanced 1 percent to $12,155 per metric ton, the highest in more than two years.

Asia

Japan’s Topix index ended 1 percent lower, while South Korea’s Kospi index lost 1.2 percent and the S&P/ASX 200 Index in Sydney declined 0.4 percent.
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong fell 1 percent.
Indexes rose in China. The Philippines’ main gauge jumped 1 percent.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.6 percent, poised for its worst decline since Aug. 11.

Up Next

U.K Construction Slows to Weakest in a Year

Don't Miss

Investor With 30% in Cash Says North Korea Selloff Will Come

Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

Comments

Energy

FG Set to Unveil Nigeria’s Largest 15 Million-Litre Aviation Fuel Depot in Lagos

Published

8 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The Federal Government has announced plans to unveil a 15 million-litre aviation fuel depot in Lagos State on October 17, 2024.

This announcement was made by the Group Managing Director of Masters Energy and Chairperson of the JUHI-2 Board, Mrs. Patience Dappa, via a statement on Thursday.

Dappa revealed that the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2 (JUHI-2), which she described as the largest airside jet fuel depot in Nigeria, will mark a significant transformation for the nation’s aviation sector.

She disclosed that the facility will be located near Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and will serve as a storage and supply hub for the airport and other nearby airbases.

Dappa stated, “The Nigerian aviation industry is poised for a significant transformation with the upcoming commissioning of the Joint User Hydrant Installation 2, the country’s largest airside jet fuel depot. The facility will officially open on October 17, 2024, at the JUHI-2 Facility located off the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road, Lagos.

“The depot will serve as a crucial storage and supply hub for jet fuel, ensuring a steady fuel supply to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMA2, MMA1, and nearby airbases.”

Meanwhile, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Eterna Plc and Chairman of the JUHI-2 Commissioning Committee, Abiola Lawal, described the facility as a state-of-the-art depot, adding that it will meet fuel demands and enhance aviation operations in the country.

Lawal revealed that the depot will be unveiled by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

According to him, “This state-of-the-art depot will significantly enhance aviation operations, meeting the fuel demands of a wide range of flight activities.

“The commissioning event will be attended by key stakeholders from the aviation and energy sectors and will be officially presided over by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

“JUHI-2 is a joint venture between Eterna Plc, Masters Energy, Techno Oil, Quest Oil, Rahamaniyya, Ibafon Oil, and First Deep Water Limited.

The facility spans 46,000 square meters and boasts a storage capacity of 15 million litres of Jet A1 fuel.

“Its cutting-edge design includes the latest filtration systems, the ability to load four bowsers simultaneously, a jet fuel discharge system with four dedicated trucks, a modern laboratory, and state-of-the-art fire prevention measures. The depot’s advanced operational support facilities position it as the best of its kind in Nigeria.”

Crude Oil

Brent, WTI Benchmarks Settle Lower as Investors Weigh Supply, Demand

Published

9 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Iyanuoluwa Martins

Oil prices settled lower on Friday with Brent crude oil futures settled down 36 cents, or 0.45%, at $79.04 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled down 29 cents, or 0.38%, to $75.56 per barrel.

Investors weighed factors such as possible supply disruptions in the Middle East and Hurricane Milton’s impact on fuel demand in Florida.

For the week, however, both benchmarks rose by more than 1 percent.

Market analysts warned that development over Israel continues to hold over the market even after weeks since Iran’s massive missile attack.

There are talks that if Israel destroys Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure, prices will rise.

Crude benchmarks spiked so far this month after Iran launched more than 180 missiles against Israel on October 1, raising the prospect of retaliation against Iranian oil facilities.

However, Israel has yet to respond.

US President Joe Biden has warned Israel against hitting oil facilities in Iran, one of the world’s biggest producers.

Iran has warned that any attack on its infrastructure would provoke an even stronger response, with analysts warning that it could resort to placing pressure on important transit chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.

For years, Iran has threatened to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world’s oil supply flows.

A major disruption to the flow of oil and gas from the Middle East would affect the Chinese economy, which has faced its own challenges.

China imports an estimated 1.5 million barrels of oil a day from Iran, accounting for 15% of its oil imports from the region.

Weather development in the US weighed on prices as Hurricane Milton blew through Florida, leading to petrol shortages as drivers stocked up ahead of the hurricane.

There are indications that the destruction could go on to dampen fuel consumption in the hurricane’s aftermath.

Florida is the third-largest petrol consumer in the US, but there are no refineries in the state, making it dependent on waterborne imports.

Energy

FG Says Oil Marketers Can Now Buy Petrol Directly From Dangote Refinery

Published

9 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

The Federal Government has said all petroleum marketers can now negotiate and buy products directly from the Dangote Refinery, Lagos.

A statement by the Ministry of Finance indicated that the decision to allow oil marketers to deal directly with the refinery firm was reached at a meeting of the technical committee headed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

The meeting was held in Abuja on Friday.

The leeway given by the Federal Government has ended the arrangement in which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) was acting as the sole off-taker of the Dangote Refinery products.

Edun said its decision followed the directive of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the implementation of the new Naira-based sales mechanism, adding that the Implementation Committee on the Sales of Crude Oil and Refined Products in Naira, of which he chaired held its second review meeting on Wednesday, October 10, 2024.

He said the meeting focused on assessing the transition towards a deregulated market structure for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and addressing the change in the purchasing model for petroleum product marketers.

Giving key update on New Direct Purchase Model, the minister said the most significant change under the new regime is that petroleum product marketers can now purchase PMS directly from local refineries, saying that this marks a departure from the previous arrangement where the NNPCL served as the sole purchaser and distributor of PMS from the refineries.

According to him, “This direct purchasing mechanism allows marketers to negotiate commercial terms directly with the refineries, fostering a more competitive market environment and enabling a smoother supply chain for petroleum products.

“Local Production of PMS: With the commencement of local PMS production, the market is better equipped to support these direct transactions. This transition is expected to enhance efficiency in product availability and stabilize market conditions for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

Edun stated that the committee recognizes that there are questions and discussions regarding this change in the market structure, adding, “We are committed to providing clarity on this development and will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition process the Minister informed.”

He described the direct purchase of PMS by petroleum product marketers as a new era of growth and development for Nigeria’s petroleum industry and reassured stakeholders that the Committee will continue to provide clarity and engage with stakeholders to ensure the success of this new regime.”