Singapore shares rise on positive SGX earnings, broker upgrades
Philippine stocks gain on central bank policy easing bets
Indonesia shares hit lowest since November, 2023
Updates as of 0710 GMT
By Rishav Chatterjee and Rajasik Mukherjee
Feb 7 (Reuters) - Jakarta stocks hit their lowest level in 15 months on Friday after MSCI said it will not consider adding three companies linked to a local billionaire to its index constituents, while Manila shares were set for a weekly gain on policy easing bets.
The Indonesian benchmark index .JKSE dropped as much as 3.2% to hit its lowest since November 2, 2023.
PT Barito Renewables Energy BREN.JK, PT Petrosea Tbk PTRO.JK and PT Petrindo Jaya Kreasi CUAN.JK led declines on the Indonesian benchmark, dropping 19.9%, 20.4% and 20% respectively.
The three firms are all linked to Indonesian billionaire Prajogo Pangestu, who founded conglomerate Barito Pacific Group. The MSCI said it would not include these firms in its index rebalancing in February, citing potential investability issues.
Shares in Singapore .STI gained 0.8%, led by a massive near jump in shares of its bourse operator SGXL.SI. The Singapore dollar SGD= was little changed.
Singapore Exchange SGXL.SI reported positive earnings on Thursday, following which some brokerages lifted their price targets and ratings on the stock.
Its shares jumped as much as 8.3% to hit their highest since December 2007, and were set for their strongest trading session since May 2009.
Elsewhere, Philippine stocks were set for their best week in nearly four years as investors in the Southeast Asian nation priced in policy easing by the central bank at its next board meeting on February 13.
"We expect BSP to cut the policy rate by 25bps to 5.5% in February. Q4 GDP growth came in lower than expected, at 5.2% y/y versus consensus of 5.5%...Inflation is benign...and well within the central bank’s 2-4% forecast range," Standard Chartered analysts said in a note.
Manila's benchmark index .PSI was set for its best week since late-May 2021.
Currencies in emerging Asia were mostly stable, as markets realised a sense of calm after being marred by jitters of a global trade war earlier in the week.
The Indonesian rupiah IDR= was trading 0.2% higher, while the Philippine peso PHP= and Indian rupee INR= gained 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. The Taiwan dollar TWD=TP and Thai baht THB=TH added 0.2% and 0.4% each.
HIGHLIGHTS:
** India c.bank cuts rates for first time in nearly 5 years
** Philippines' VP Duterte prepared for impeachment
Asian stocks and currencies as of 0710 GMT | ||||||
COUNTRY | FX RIC | FX DAILY % | FX YTD % | INDEX | STOCKS DAILY % | STOCKS YTD % |
Japan | JPY= | -0.24 | +3.54 | .N225 | -0.72 | -1.32 |
China | CNY=CFXS | -0.04 | +0.17 | .SSEC | 0.87 | -1.57 |
India | INR=IN | +0.17 | -2.08 | .NSEI | -0.12 | -0.30 |
Indonesia | IDR= | +0.18 | -1.26 | .JKSE | -1.93 | -4.76 |
Malaysia | MYR= | -0.20 | +0.81 | .KLSE | 0.24 | -3.25 |
Philippines | PHP= | +0.10 | +0.15 | .PSI | -1.39 | -5.73 |
S.Korea | KRW=KFTC | -0.01 | +1.71 | .KS11 | -0.58 | 5.10 |
Singapore | SGD= | -0.02 | +1.07 | .STI | 0.79 | 1.93 |
Taiwan | TWD=TP | +0.21 | +0.08 | .TWII | 0.69 | 1.92 |
Thailand | THB=TH | +0.39 | +1.90 | .SETI | -0.13 | -9.98 |
Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
Asian stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee and Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
((Rishav.Chatterjee@thomsonreuters.com;))