Asian Stocks Expected to Be Under Pressure on Thursday
Shares in Asia are expected to be under some pressure today as crude oil prices slid 2.9 percent overnight after the American Petroleum Institute released a report that stated US supplies grew unexpectedly by 6.3 million barrels. Other commodity prices were also down after the release of downbeat industrial output data from China on Wednesday. However, with China's positive October retail sales (posting the strongest gain of the year) there are few chances of seeing new massive stimulus from Chinese authorities. As such 'bad news' is no 'good news'.
Meanwhile, markets are waiting for speeches of Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen and Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer on Thursday to search for more information whether the US central bank will indeed raise US interest rates before the year-end. After the surge of October US non-farm payrolls, markets are bracing for a small rate hike at the December policy meeting. A interest rate hike in the US will lead to capital outflows from emerging markets, including Indonesia (one of the countries that is particularly vulnerable to tighter US monetary policy).
On Friday, US retail sales data are to be released but are not expected to lead to changing perceptions about the US monetary policy (unless there is an unexpectedly large drop in sales).
On Wednesday (11/11), indices on Wall Street fell, led by declines in retailers and energy companies. Shares of Macy's plunged after the release of weak results, while energy companies fell due to lower crude oil price.
Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG):
Indonesian Rupiah versus US Dollar (JISDOR):
| Source: Bank Indonesia