July 17 (Bloomberg) --
"Asian stocks advanced for a third day, oil climbed and the Japanese yen weakened as an unexpected drop in U.S. retail sales stoked speculation Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke will hint at further stimulus today.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 0.5 percent at 11:47 a.m. in Tokyo and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures were 0.4 percent stronger. Oil in New York was up 0.3 percent at $88.65 a barrel for a fifth day of gains. The Japanese yen weakened against all 16 of its major peers and was down 0.3 percent to the euro. The South Korean won advanced 0.4 percent.
Bernanke will deliver his semiannual report on the economy and monetary policy before Congress today, after a report yesterday showing a contraction in June retail sales kindled speculation the Fed will introduce more measures to support the world’s largest economy.
“There is market positioning for Bernanke to deliver something today,” said Joseph Capurso, a strategist in Sydney at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the nation’s biggest lender. “There is a high risk of more policy easing before the end of this year.”
A third monthly drop in U.S. retail sales showed limited employment gains are taking a toll on the biggest part of the economy. The IMF lowered its 2013 forecast for global economic growth yesterday to 3.9 percent from 4.1 percent as Europe’s debt crisis prolongs Spain’s recession and slows expansions in emerging markets from China to India.
The last time corn conditions tumbled for six straight weeks was the period through Sept. 5, 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The most-active contract hit an all-time high of $7.9925 during the food crisis in June 2008.
Precious metals advanced, with gold for immediate delivery up 0.3 percent to $1,594.27 an ounce and spot silver 0.5 percent higher at $27.49 an ounce. Platinum gained 0.7 percent.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 0.6 percent after Japanese markets were closed yesterday for a public holiday. South Korea’s Kospi was 0.6 percent stronger, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 0.8 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.4 percent.
U.S. Fed
The Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against the currencies of six U.S. trading partners, fell for a third day, the longest period of losses in a month. The euro rose 0.3 percent to $1.2299 and 97.06 yen.
The Federal Open Market Committee’s June 19 to June 20 meeting debated the need for further stimulus measures, the minutes released July 11 showed. Two participants supported additional bond purchases, while two others said only a further deterioration in the economy would warrant them.
The U.S. economy won’t grow much faster than 2 percent this year, restrained by caution among consumers and businesses, Kansas City Fed President Esther George said yesterday. The economy “is growing slowly for sure and some may characterize it as growing erratically,” George said in a speech in Kansas City, Missouri.
Australian Dollar
The Australian dollar strengthened against all its major peers and was up 0.5 percent to $1.0293. Australia’s central bank kept borrowing costs unchanged this month as domestic job growth and previous interest-rate reductions help the local economy weather global disruptions, minutes of its July 3 policy meeting released today showed.
The cost of insuring corporate and sovereign bonds in Japan and Australia from non-payment increased, according to traders of credit-default swaps. The Markit iTraxx Australia index climbed 2 basis points to 178.5 basis points, Westpac Banking Corp.’s prices show. The Markit iTraxx Japan index added 1.5 basis points from its close last week to 178, Citigroup Inc. prices show. "
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Chua Baizhen in Beijing at bchua14@bloomberg.net
Mini Asian Summary
Asian stocks climb again overnight (MSCI Asia Pacific adding 0.5%) as data released from the U.S. showed an unexpected drop in retail sales and stoked speculation the Fed will hint at further stimulus today in the semi-annual report on the economy and monetary policy.
As crop conditions worsened Corn climbed 1.2% in Chicago. U.S. Consumer price index and industrial production figures are set to be released later today.
Dow and the S&P both closing down 0.2% after SA futures close
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Steven
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