Asian equities and currencies enjoy post-G20 bounce

Oil prices also rebound as Russia and Saudi Arabia agree to maintain production cuts ahead of Opec+ meeting

Han Tan, OpinionIndustry Expert
Tan Chung Han (Han Tan) joined FXTM in January 2019 as a market analyst, providing insights on global financial markets, with a focus on Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia.A highly experienced financial journalist and news presenter, he has worked for a number of national and international business broadcasters, including Bloomberg TV Malaysia, BFM and TV3. He also reported for the popular shows Dashboard and Moving Malaysia on Bloomberg TV Malaysia. He graduated from Liberty University in Virginia, USA, in 2006.

July 1, 2019

Asian equities and currencies are benefitting from a feel-good mood in the markets after United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to reignite trade talks. The offshore yuan has been Asia’s best performer on Monday morning, climbing 0.6 percent against the U.S. dollar at the time of writing. Meanwhile, safe haven assets are losing ground on the ebbing risk aversion, with gold falling below the psychological $1,400 level, while the Japanese yen weakened by some 0.3 percent to go back above the 108 level versus the dollar.

The U.S.-China truce announcement reduces the probability of more tariffs being imposed over the immediate term on shipments between the world’s two largest economies, giving markets the go-ahead to push further into risk-on territory for the time being.

Deal or no deal?

The resumption of U.S.-China trade talks doesn’t necessarily mean a trade deal is imminent. While an immediate deterioration in US-China relations has been averted, for now at least, the tariffs already imposed on global trade are still in effect and are expected to continue weighing on global growth.

This U.S.-China truce may merely offer markets a temporary high, as the announcement by both governments appears to kick the can down the road. The path towards a lasting U.S.-China trade deal remains unclear, in light of the complexities and sensitivities encountered during negotiations from earlier this year. The risk of talks falling apart, or another flare-up in tensions, could still rear its ugly head at some point in the future, blindsiding investors yet again.

The trepidatious investor will be tempted to ponder whether the same script will play out again over the coming months. In the meantime, risk assets are expected to enjoy their time in the sun, until the storm clouds of U.S.-led tensions darken market sentiment once again.

Brent and WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude prices are on the verge of gaining two percent respectively at the time of writing, after Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed to restrain oil supplies through the end of 2019 at least. The pact between two of the biggest producers within OPEC+ should pave the way for an official stance by the alliance to extend the output cuts campaign, as the group’s meeting in Vienna begins on Monday.

Oil prices should enjoy some immediate relief given expectations of the OPEC+ production cuts extension, along with the positive sentiment accompanying the revival of U.S.-China trade talks. While an official extension should strengthen the floor under oil prices, the lingering concerns over slowing global demand growth may cap oil’s upside, unless existing U.S.-China tariffs are lifted to brighten the global economic outlook.

Markets will also be assessing whether OPEC+ efforts to rebalance the global oil markets may be enough, in light of record U.S. crude output, along with the risk of another flare-up in the U.S.-China trade conflict which could drag global growth lower.

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