Asian markets mostly down on European debt woes

Concerns over Europe’s debt woes yesterday continued to weigh on most Asian markets while weaker-than-expected US jobs data also led to fears over the pace of recovery in the world’s biggest economy.
The euro was off last week’s eight-month lows in Asian trade but was still being sold in favour of the dollar as European fiscal problems continue to burden dealers.
Fears have grown that debt-ridden countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal may be unable to restore stability to their public finances, having spent heavily to combat recession during the global meltdown.
“The market’s biggest concern is the European fiscal situation, and this problem won’t be solved any time soon,” Nikko Cordial senior strategist Tsuyoshi Kawata told Dow Jones Newswires.
The euro stood at 1.3626 dollars in Tokyo afternoon trade, after sliding to as low as 1.3586 in New York late Friday. The euro dropped to 121.65 yen from 122.01. The dollar edged up to 89.32 yen from 89.20.
Dealers in Asia were unimpressed by remarks from eurozone finance officials at G7 talks in Canada on Greece’s efforts to cut its public debt of more than 294 billion euros.
French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde had said: “The European members of the G7 have confirmed to the other partners of the G7 the substance and the significance of the [debt-reduction] plan put together by Greece, and that they are confident that it will be managed.”
But that was not enough to soothe concerns on the markets.
Tokyo’s Nikkei ended 1.05 percent, or 105.27 points, lower at 9,951.82, the first time it has been below 10,000 since December 10.
Toyota extended its recent losses as it reels from a series of safety issues. The car maker dropped 1.05 percent to 3,280 yen, having plunged from above 4,000 yen in just a few weeks due to a series of safety issues.
Reports said Sunday the world’s biggest car maker will recall 300,000 Prius hybrid vehicles because of brake flaws, just over a week after it called back almost eight million other cars over problems with the accelerator.
“I am not surprised that investors are buying Toyota shares on dips,” said one trader.
Hong Kong closed 0.58 percent, or 114.19 points, lower at 19,550.89 and Shanghai gave up 0.14 percent, or 4.23 points, to end at 2,935.17.
Both markets were suffering from a lack of buying interest before the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts at the end of the week, dealers said.
Seoul finished 0.91 percent, or 14.33 points, lower at 1552.79.
Doubts about a recovery of the US job market increased after Washington said the world’s largest economy shed 20,000 jobs last month, offering mixed signals about a sustainable recovery.
The figure was despite another survey showing the jobless total had fallen to 9.7 percent in December from 10 percent, partly reflecting that discouraged workers were leaving the labour market.
However, profit-taking following Friday’s heavy losses helped some markets to claw back some ground. They also got a slight lift from a late run on Wall Street, which ended up 0.10 percent Friday.
Sydney closed 0.16 percent, or 7.1 points, higher at 4,521.4.
Singapore ended up 0.37 percent, or 10.06 points, at 2,693.62. Bank UOB rose 26 Singapore cents to 18.26 dollars.
Players are now looking ahead to the European reports on economic growth, due for release later this week.
Oil was lifted as dealers moved in to pick up bargains, with New York’s main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, 16 cents higher at 71.35 dollars a barrel, while London’s Brent North Sea crude for March was up 25 cents at 69.84 dollars.
Hong Kong gold ended at 1,068.00-1,069.00 US dollars an ounce, up from Friday’s close of 1,060.00-1,061.00 US dollars.

In other markets

•Taiwan shares were flat, edging up 3.01 points to 7,215.88.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co fell 1.03 percent to 57.40, while United Microelectronics Corp closed unchanged at 16.00.
•Wellington ended 0.37 percent, or 11.54 points, to 3,093.45.
Telecom ended down 0.4 percent at 2.30 New Zealand dollars and construction company Fletcher Building fell 0.3 percent to 7.50.
•Jakarta lostbslk 1.72 percent, or 43.40 points, to 2,475.57.
Astra fell 1.9 percent to 33,700 rupiah, Telkom lost 2.2 percent to 8,700 and Bumi Resources dropped 2.0 percent to 2,400.
•Kuala Lumpur lost 1.02 percent, or 12.68 points, to close at 1,235.22.
Hong Leong Bank fell 2.7 percent to 7.90 ringgit and Bursa was down 2.6 percent at 7.40.
•Manila fell 0.32 percent, or 9.04 points, to 2,846.60.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. dropped 0.79 percent to 2,515 pesos but holding company Ayala Corp rise 0.95 percent to 265 pesos.
•Bangkok lost 0.48 percent, or 3.32 points, to close at 688.09.
Banpu fell 4.00 baht to 536.00 baht and PTT Plc closed 1.00 baht lower at 217.00 baht.
•Mumbai rose 0.13 percent, or 19.96 points, to 15,935.61.
But earlier highs were pared on concerns the government could start to withdraw stimulus packages in the upcoming federal budget, dealers said.
The world’s eighth-largest firm Tata Steel tumbled 4.46 percent to 533.8 rupees.