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MARKET RAP
Shanghai sets pace
Shanghai-listed stocks continue to defy concerns of an overheated market and an
absence of strengthening overseas demand for Chinese goods. Across the Taiwan
Strait, investors are also still driving up prices. (Jul
3,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
One more fling before summer?
Asian equity markets crept slightly higher, particularly benchmark indices in
Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. But in India, post-election blues appear to be
setting in. The flirtation with gains is likely to be short-lived, however, as
earnings season looms heavy on the horizon. (Jun
26,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Slow, dangerous drift
Shanghai stands out for its vigor in a largely lackluster week as markets drift
towards levels that may soon evince thoughts of doom and gloom rather than idle
chatter of "green shoots" and recovery. (Jun 19,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
Post-crisis riches ahead for East
Asia leaders
The purchasing power of China, Japan and South Korea will only increase as
Western economies recover, with attendant inflation, from this financial
crisis. That does not mean those Asian countries will seek to drop the use of
the weakening US dollar - quite the reverse. - R Taggart Murphy
(Jun 18,'09)
MARKET RAP
Asia looking short of wind
Japan set the pace as Asian stocks continued to gain, but with the tempo easing
amid signs of increased volatility, this rally may be running a little out of
puff. (Jun 15,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
The charge goes on
Chinese and Indian stocks continue upwards at a pace that increases the
possibility of some consolidation in the near term. Meanwhile, the charge goes
on. (Jun 5,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Onward and upward
Hong Kong led the continuing charge of Asia's stock markets, with Tokyo close
on its heels. Both look well placed for further gains - at least in the near
future. (May 29,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
World Bank of corruption
India and Vietnam head the countries mentioned in a deeply buried report into
corruption involving World Bank aid. More than a decade after bank president
James Wolfensohn started his "Cancer of Corruption" campaign, talk and no
action remain the institution's leitmotif, even as the bank is granted billions
of dollars more to hand out where it sees fit - with few questions asked. - Bea
Edwards (May 27,'09)
MARKET RAP
Testing time ahead
The present medium-term advance appears to be relatively close to exhaustion
across the region, and the markets can now look to see if recently established
supports will hold. (May 22,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
A little cooler
As India's political parties got down to sorting out the results of the general
election, the country's Sensex stock index looked set to be the region's only
real gainer over the week. Markets are coming off the boil - but still look
overheated. (May 15,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
The Chinese riddle
The continuing gains in Asian stocks - Singapore was up nearly 18% this week -
raise the question whether the region can provide an independent impetus to
world equity markets. The trend is strong, but lacking Western demand for
Chinese products, perhaps not long-lasting. (May
8,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
On the cusp, but of what?
All Asia's main equity indices gained in the week to the point where they are
now facing major inflection points. What direction they will take from here is
not so clear. (May 1,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Critical junctures abound
Taiwan stocks continued, if at a less hectic pace, the remarkable recovery they
have made in the past five months, while most others in the region are holding
onto their recent gains - for the present. (Apr
24,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Party mood lingers
The eastern Asian markets of Tokyo, Seoul and Taiwan didn't quite show the
stamina of others in the region over the past few trading days, but still
managed to hold onto most of their recent pace-setting gains.
(Apr 17,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Hope stirs in Asia
A recovery from a desultory start to the trading week raises the prospects that
more might be happening in Asia's stock markets than a brief break from
bear-market misery. Yet these are still early days. (Apr
9,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the
week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Easy does it
The fireworks were missing, but Asian stocks are continuing their recovery,
with Seoul the first major exchange to confirm its breakout above medium-term
resistance. Tokyo stocks are the next to watch for a measure of this rally's
strength. (Apr 3,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
The G-20's summit of fear
The problem with the Group of 20 crisis summit in London this week is that it's
all show, masking fear among the global elite that it really doesn't know how
to stabilize the world economy. - Walden Bello
(Apr 1,'09)
MARKET RAP
Bear market rallies
With stock indexes starting to hit the 20% recovery level from earlier
horrendous lows, investors can start dreaming of a return to the good old days
of rampant bull markets. They should enjoy it while they can. - R M Cutler
(Mar 27,'09)
It's not just the economy
As Asia reels from the global downturn, opportunities are growing for
autocratic regimes to strengthen their grip and feed off disillusion with
Western-style capitalism. Tumbling exports and related job losses are also
testing fragile democracies. This crisis is about a lot more than local
economies. (Mar 25,'09)
MARKET RAP
False dawn in Asia?
Skeptics have said that a rally in Asian equity mark1ets is little more than a
"dead cat bounce", and that indexes are poised to fall again, soon. While the
possibility remains that the lows this month could be the starting points of a
major market rally, things are more likely to get worse first.
(Mar 20,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
The second shockwave
The developing world is yet to feel the full impact of the
global financial crisis. That is coming, as remittances from richer countries
fall, exports decline and survival without an adequate social security net
becomes increasingly hard. "Regime-threatening instability" is next on this
path. - Michael Klare (Mar 19,'09)
MARKET RAP
Perhaps a breather
Some optimism emerging from China and Japan helped the week to end strongly. We
may be seeing something of the end in the long decline of the region's stocks.
Or at least a break in that tumultuous fall. (Mar
13,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
 CHAN
AKYA
Buyer beware
Endemic fear of deflation has pushed Western governments to issue mountains of
cash to their citizens. Asia is feeling the pinch, and not just in terms of
currency values. Savers are seeing a decline in both current income and future
purchasing power. (Mar 13,'09)
 ASIA
HAND
Race to the bottom
The relatively easy riches garnered from exports now elude Southeast Asia as
consumers elsewhere tighten spending. The region's politicians and central
bankers are denying, perhaps too strongly, that they will seek the one
too-obvious solution - break ranks and cut the value of their currencies. - Shawn
W Crispin (Mar 11,'09)
MARKET RAP
Still looking for support
Strong gains in China during the week cannot mask the overall trend of the
region's stocks, with even the Chinese mainland benchmark failing to break out
of a narrow range. More descents appear to be in the offing.
(Mar 6,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
Asia's miners line up for
Outback
Cash-rich Asian miners are jostling to buy interests in Australia's vast
resources, going cheap with the collapse in commodity prices and a slide in the
Australian dollar. Their success may hinge on the outcome of Chinalco's
blockbuster US$19.5 billion pursuit of Rio Tinto. Rio needs the cash - but
Australian concerns may claim priority. - Alan Boyd
(Mar 3,'09)
MARKET RAP
Peril abounds
Contrasting behavior in the China-related exchanges highlights problems each
faces. The lesson from Hong Kong is that pessimism regarding Taiwan and
mainland markets will be justified. (Mar 2,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Chat is easy
South Korea set the pace for sharp declines across the region's equity markets,
and further falls look only too likely from Tokyo through to India, upbeat
chit-chat from China notwithstanding. (Feb 20,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Reliable as tea leaves
The continued relative strength of the Shanghai market amid
positive anecdotal evidence leads to optimistic conclusions that China may have
turned a corner in its economic travails. That is wishful thinking. Very
wishful thinking. (Feb 13,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
Asia: The coming fury
The collapse of Asia's export markets, first the United States and now China,
and the sudden end of the export era, is going to have ugly consequences. East
Asia may now be returning after a gap of three decades to a period of radical
protest and social revolution. - Walden Bello
(Feb 10,'09)
MARKET RAP
Thin ice
Gains in Asian stocks reflect optimism at the prospects of a global economic
turnaround while defying the reality on the ground. Beneath this surface of
hope lies a chilly awakening. (Feb 6,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
 CHAN
AKYA
False hope of protectionism
It didn't take too long for protectionist impulses to rear up across Group of
Seven leading industrialized countries as the initial bouts of Keynesian
spending failed to provide any relief. Yet demographic factors dictate that any
salvation for developed countries waits on increased consumption in the Asian
region. (Feb 6,'09)
MARKET RAP
New Year froth
The superficial nature of the largely truncated trading week's positive tone
started to become only too clear towards its finale. After China's markets
return from their break, expect any notion of a happy new year to soon
dissipate. (Jan 30,'09)
Businesses cold to climate change
Asians are discovering that climate-friendly solutions can resolve business
problems, but corporate leaders are proving slow in coming around to
recognizing that such responses are the way to go. (Jan
29,'09)
MARKET RAP
Red, red, red
Poor earnings results from two of Asia's biggest corporations more or less
ensured that Asia markets notched up their third week of losses. New lows lie
ahead. (Jan 23,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
CHAN AKYA
Family value
Family-run businesses are under siege across much of Asia amid the credit
crunch and macroeconomic changes, even as they make a comeback in Japan. The
need for overhauling the structures in keeping with the requirements of new
capital providers must be balanced by strong leadership; suggesting that
reports of family businesses simply dying away in Asia are vastly exaggerated.
(Jan 23,'09)
MARKET RAP
Silver lining points to another
cloud
The positive exception in an otherwise negative week, Shanghai's benchmark SSEC
index, merely carries the message that there is plenty of scope for further
declines across the region. (Jan 16,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Weakness abounds
A mixed week serves as a reminder that whatever the small signs of optimism
there is much more bad news to come and wealth to be destroyed.
(Jan 9,'09)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Calmly walking a tightrope
A suggestion of relative calm emerged around the region in a period marked by a
strong rally in Hong Kong that might augur well. But markets further east
suggest the year-end festive mood may be short-lived.
(Dec 19,'08)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Bears ease their grip
An end-of-week sell-off on Asia's stock markets on the refusal of US
legislators to nod through a US$14 billion assistance package for the country's
automakers took some of the shine off a positive week. Further upsides beckon,
but it would be folly to believe the worst is over. (Dec
12,'08)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Skirting the precipice
A relatively strong showing by Shanghai stocks will have cheered some
investors, yet here as elsewhere there is little to remove concern that further
precipitous falls are still possible. (Dec 5,'08)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
MARKET RAP
Bear market rally
Shanghai was alone in showing a negative market movement last week, with even
Mumbai showing some resilience in the face of the terrorist slaughter in the
city, the country's unquestioned financial center. Yet signs of a broad and
deep malaise remain. (Dec 1,'08)
R M Cutler runs his eye over the ups and downs in the week's markets.
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