Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as banking sector stress lingers

Shares of Chinese shopping platform Meituan fell over 6% on Monday, despite the company posting better results for 2022, last Friday.

Meituan posted a 21.4% year-on-year increase in revenue for the fourth quarter to 60.12 billion yuan ($8. 74 billion) while full year revenue came in 22.8% higher at 219.95 billion yuan.

Most notably, losses for Meituan narrowed substantially, dropping 79.7% in the fourth quarter to just over 1 billion yuan, while full year losses was reduced by 71.6% to come in at 6.69 billion yuan.

— Lim Hui Jie

China’s industrial profit slumped 22.9% in the January to February period compared to a year ago, government data showed on Monday.

The reading last saw a 4% fall in industrial profit seen in December, according to Refinitiv data.

China’s industrial profit print for the latest period marked the steepest decline since April 2020, Refinitiv showed.

China’s onshore yuan slightly weakened after the report and stood at 6.8783 against the greenback.

— Jihye Lee

International Monetary Fund managing director. Kristalina Georgieva said China is showing signs of robust economic recovery.

In remarks delivered in the 2023 China Development Forum, Georgieva said China’s economy is seeing a strong rebound, with the IMF’s January forecast putting China’s GDP growth at 5.2% —a sizeable increase of more than 2 percentage points from the 2022 rate.

“This matters for China, and it matters for the world,” she pointed out, saying China is set to account for around one third of global growth in 2023.

The IMF’s analysis also noted a one percentage point increase in GDP growth in China, could lead to a 0.3 percentage point increase in growth in other Asian economies, on average.

“With such a solid recovery, China can now build on positive momentum and—through comprehensive policies—stay on the growth path towards convergence with advanced economies,” Georgieva highlighted.

— Lim Hui Jie

The recent banking turmoil could bring the U.S. closer to a recession, Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said in an interview with CBS’ Face The Nation.

“It definitely brings us closer right now, what’s unclear for us is how much of these banking stresses are leading to a widespread credit crunch,” he said when asked if the banking crisis with the mid-sized banks may have a real impact on the economy. “And then that credit crunch, just as you said, would then slow down the economy.”

He said Fed officials are monitoring the impact from the fallout of the banking sector “very, very closely,” and the current system has the “full support” of the Federal Reserve.

“The U.S. banking system is resilient, and it’s sound,” he said when asked about the stability of the banking system and its ability to control further risks seen in California and New York.

“The banking system has a strong capital position and a lot of liquidity and has the full support of the Federal Reserve and other regulators standing behind it,” said Kashkari.

“I’m not saying that all of the stresses are behind us, I expect this process will take some time. But fundamentally, the banking system is sound,” he said.

— Jihye Lee

In the wake of the recent banking stresses, Morgan Stanley has cautioned that the European banking sector is “not as attractive as it was” last week despite recent share price drops.

Strategists at the Wall Street bank also recommend 10 defensive stocks to own right now while selling European bank stocks “into any material rally”.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Ganesh Rao

Most electric vehicle stocks are up this year, but Rivian is one exception.

Its shares keep hitting lows recently. Is Rivian just a cash-burning company, or does Wall Street see significant upside for the stock ahead? Here’s what they say.

CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Weizhen Tan

“As a growth manager … how do you identify good growth businesses?” fund manager Ian Mortimer told CNBC Pro Talks on Wednesday, as he shared his strategy for spotting outperforming stocks.

Mortimer manages the growth and innovation-focused Guinness Global Innovators Fund, which counts the likes of Nvidia and Microsoft among its holdings.

Pro subscribers can read more here.

— Zavier Ong

Hong Kong’s inflation rate slowed to 1.7% in February on a year-on-year basis, down from 2.4% in January and at its slowest pace since May 2022.

This was lower than expectations of 2.3%, with the city’s census and statistics department saying that the largest increases in the consumer price index were seen in electricity, gas and water at 20.7%, as well as alcoholic drinks and tobacco at 14%.

The largest decline in inflation were for durable goods and basic food, coming in at 2.1% lower and 0.6% lower respectively.

— Lim Hui Jie

Japan’s services producer price index rose 1.8% in February year-on-year, up from a rise of 1.6% year-on-year seen in January.

Government data showed the reading marked the third consecutive month of accelerated gains.

The Japanese yen slightly weakened to 130.9 against the U.S. dollar following the report.

— Jihye Lee

Deutsche Bank‘s U.S.-listed shares slid 4.3% during midday trading, pulling off their lows. The bank stock earlier dropped 14% after the German lender’s credit default swaps jumped, without an apparent catalyst.

Investor concerns over the health of the European banking industry eased somewhat after European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said euro zone banks are resilient with strong capital and liquidity positions. Lagarde said the ECB could provide liquidity if needed.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan defended Deutsche Bank, saying Friday that investors should focus on the European bank’s “solid” fundamentals.

— Sarah Min

Here are some of the names making the biggest moves midday:

GameStop — The famed meme stock gained 2.5% in midday trading. The stock has been active since it reported its first profitable quarter in two years earlier this week.

Deutsche Bank — The German lender’s U.S.-listed shares slid 5%, bouncing off its lows. The bank stock had been down about 14% after the bank’s credit default swaps jumped without an apparent catalyst. JPMorgan defended Deutsche Bank Friday, saying investors should focus on the European bank’s “solid” fundamentals.

Regeneron — Regeneron gained 2.2% after Jefferies upgraded the pharmaceutical stock to a buy from hold rating and said its Dupixent drug, in development with Sanofi, could serve as the next big catalyst for the company.

To see more companies making moves during midday trading, read the full story here.

— Brian Evans

St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said Friday that central bank policy should help contain cracks in the financial system.

“Continued appropriate macroprudential policy can contain financial stress, while appropriate monetary policy can continue to put downward pressure on inflation,” Bullard said in a presentation.

His comments were similar to sentiments Wednesday from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, who said interest rate hikes are targeted at inflation while special lending facilities will keep banks liquid.

Bullard called the Fed’s actions to the banking problems “swift and appropriate.” He also noted that even with the financial tumult, economic data has been stronger than expected and said inflation has “declined recently.”

Presentation materials released with Bullard’s speech did not indicate a position on where rates should go from here. Markets are pricing in a strong possibility the Fed will not hike when it meets again in May. Bullard is a nonvoting member of the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

—Jeff Cox

Despite seeing only a modest advance in Friday’s session, gold is up 1.4% so far this week. If gold finishes Friday’s session above its weekly flatline, it will mark the metal’s fourth straight winning week.

— Alex Harring, Gina Francolla