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StreetAccount Summary - Asian Market Recap: Nikkei (0.41%), Hang Seng +0.37%, Shanghai Composite +0.08% as of 03:10 ET

Jan 21 ,2026

  • Synopsis:

    • Asia stocks ended mostly lower again Wednesday although the losses have steadied. Japan's Nikkei and Topix ended in the red but well off their lows. Australia, Singapore and Taiwan all traded lower. Greater China markets were broadly positive, South Korea's Kospi also ended higher albeit still below its recent peak. India markets again under pressure although losses contained for now. US futures trading higher, Europe lower in opening trades. US dollar steady, little movement of note in Asia currencies. JGB yields down slightly after finmin comments; Treasury yield curve steepening. Crude oil contracts lower. Gold surged again to approach $5,000 per oz while silver is flat. Base metals mixed. Cryptocurrencies regaining some of Tuesday's losses.

    • Asia equities stabilized over the day albeit still with a negative tilt. Japan's JGB market also relatively quiet following yesterday afternoon's steep selloff in long-dated tenors after finance minister Katayama called for calm and said the government was weighing options to finance spending plans. Nevertheless, risk-off sentiment still dominant with traders waiting to see what Trump says next on Greenland during his WEF appearance. A rebound in several tech names in South Korea and another surge in Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) led the Kospi higher while Japan's banks underperformed but finished off their lows amid concerns over unrealized losses on their JGB holdings.

    • Elsewhere, South Korea's won supported by reports Seoul will likely delay commitment to a $20B investment package for the US on currency weakness; exports from the country for the first 20 days of January rose almost 15% amid a 70% increase in semiconductor shipments. India stocks underperforming again just as the rupee reached another record low on continued investor outflow, risk-off sentiment, and the lack of a trade deal with the US. Indonesia's rupiah also hovered at a record low as its central bank kept interest rates on hold but questions remained over the bank's independence following the nomination of the President's nephew for a senior post.

    • China Vanke (2202.HK) has won approval for a plan to extend payments of a yuan denominated bond, according to Bloomberg. Xiaomi (1810.HK) and Shenzhen Transsion (688036.CH) have cut smartphone shipment forecasts by tens of millions of units on the ongoing memory crunch, according to SCMP. Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AU) Q4 revenue surged as lower production was more than offset by higher prices. Rio Tinto's (RIO.AU) Q4 iron ore and copper output beat estimates but the company warned iron ore was being stockpiled by China. Wipro's (507685.IN) CEO said he was seeing growing demand for Indian IT services from AI-related projects following a period of test deployment.

  • Digest:

    • From 'Takaichi trades' to the 'Sanae shock':

      • Major reverberations from Tuesday's plunge in superlong JGBs, logging an extremely rare 20 bp+ spike in 30y and 40y yields to blow past prior records. Primary catalyst was Prime Minister Takaichi's press conference Monday evening, officially declaring a lower house dissolution while also revealing a plan to scrap the consumption tax on food for two years without specifying funding (Nikkei). This dramatically escalated market concerns about fiscal discipline, drawing comparisons to the UK Truss shock in 2022. With the JGB market issuing a rare protest against government policy amid skepticism about whether the tax cut will expire within the stated timeframe, this event is being termed the 'Sanae shock.' Superlong volatility exposed a structural shift in the market, drawing attention to the growing influence of foreign investors in the absence of domestic institutional real money participation, pointing to a stark narrowing in investment time horizons conducive for volatility (Nikkei). JSDA data showed foreign investors account for more than half of all superlong buying last year as total Japan bond net purchases grew to JPY13.3T, marking the highest on record (comparable basis) going back to 2005. Article recalled the major void in demand left by BOJ purchase reductions and while life insurers had traditionally dominated the superlong sector, appetite has been suppressed by a preceding ramp in holdings to comply with changes in ALM matching regulations.

    • Trump tariff threat pits 'Sell America' against 'TACO/escalate-to-descalate' narratives:

      • Simultaneous selloff in US stocks, Treasuries and dollar invited more discussion about revival of 'sell America' trade that punctuated market activity during 'Liberation Day' aftermath in Apr-2025. Trump's threat to hike tariffs on Europe sparking concerns of tit-for-tat escalation with potential implications for transatlantic ties, while prompting more calls for Europe to reduce dependency on US. However, that view is being accompanied by dose of skepticism amid thoughts Trump's tariff salvo part of another 'escalate-to-deescalate' strategy. While Trump publicly not backing down on his demands, he voiced confidence about US and NATO coming to agreement on Greenland (Bloomberg). Treasury Secretary Bessent and USTR Greer additionally signaled room for negotiations (Politico). Meanwhile, market volatility may put 'TACO' narrative back into play, similar to Trump's backdown on 'Liberation Day' tariffs. November midterm elections viewed as additional factor that may sway Trump against risking collateral damage to US economy. Polymarket showing only 18% chance tariffs will go into effect on 1-Feb.

    • South Korea to delay US investment, Lee sees currency stabilizing:

      • Korean won stabilizing Wednesday after currency neared its lowest against dollar since just before financial authorities intervened in late December. Late Tuesday, Bloomberg sources said South Korea will delay committing to invest $20B in US this year under trade agreement with investment on pause until currency stabilizes. Comes after South Korea's finance minister Koo voiced doubts in Reuters interview last week about $20B investment proceeding this year. Authorities giving little indication further stabilization steps are being considered with President Lee conceding difficulty reversing currency's declines through domestic measures alone (Yonhap). Lee said financial authorities predict won will strengthen to 1400-per dollar in 1-2 months (from 1472 currently), attributing part of currency's recent weakness to yen selling. Koo had also ruled out further macroprudential actions to slow won's declines with authorities mindful of promoting market liberalization as they attempt to secure MSCI upgrade to developed market status.

    • Rupee drops to record low on risk aversion, capital exit:

      • India's rupee down again Wednesday to touch record low of 91.13 per dollar amid ongoing capital outflow, geopolitical tensions, absence of US trade deal and 50% tariff. Marks sixth consecutive day of declines while it, and Indonesia's rupiah, are only Asia currencies to fall this week amid a 0.8% fall in US dollar DXY index. Risk assets continuing to decline globally on Trump's tariff threats over Greenland, exacerbated by selloff in JGBs (Bloomberg). YTD, overseas investors pulled almost $3.0B from India equity markets following $19B in FY25. Reuters cited analyst saying RBI appears ready to tolerate weaker currency so long as move is flow-led from trade or investor movements; speculative pressure could trigger stronger response than ongoing forex intervention. Risk-off sentiment pressing on domestic equities and IGBs with Nifty and Sensex down most in eight months Tuesday, lower again Wednesday; IGB yields touched 10-month high late Tuesday.

    • Bank Indonesia keeps base rate on hold as independence questions linger:

      • Bank Indonesia kept its benchmark interest rate on hold at 4.75% Wednesday, as widely expected by economists although some had begun questioning whether it would trim as bank switched to supporting economy over stabilizing rupiah. Deposit facility also held at 4.5%, lending facility at 6.0%. Bank also held steady its growth rate forecast for FY25 at 4.7-5.5% and for 4.9-5.7% in FY26. Decision comes in line with BI's stated aim of steadying rupiah but also amid growing investor concern over BI's independence following nomination of President Prabowo's nephew to senior bank post. This added to unexpected rate cut last year in face of public disorder, agreement to share debt costs of Prabowo's priority fiscal spending projects. Widening fiscal deficit also worrying investors as budget deficit forecast to balloon beyond legal 3.0% limit this year. Despite hold, rupiah continued to hover near 17K per US dollar late Wednesday.

    • Notable Gainers:

      • +37.5% 751.HK (Skyworth Group): to spin off and list Skyworth Photovoltaic on HKEX; launches HK$2.56B take-private bid at HK$4.03/share

      • +14.8% 1070.HK (TCL Electronics Holdings): Sony to sell 51% stake in home entertainment business to TCL Electronics

      • +7.1% 975.HK (Mongolian Mining): reports Q4 ROM coal mining output 3,963.6kt, +10% q/q

      • +5.7% 2202.HK (China Vanke): bondholders reject resolutions on adjustment of arrangement for repayment of principal and interest of redeemed portion of '21 Vanke 02' bonds; bondholders approve arrangement of additional fixed repayment and provision of credit enhancement measure

      • +4.3% 522.HK (ASMPT): to evaluate strategic options for SMT Solutions Segment

      • +0.8% 000720.KS (HYUNDAI ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION CO.): guides EBIT KRW650.0B vs prior guidance KRW1.183T and FactSet KRW641.81B

    • Notable Decliners:

      • -4.2% 2020.HK (ANTA Sports Products): provides Q4 operational update; ANTA sees low-single digit negative growth y/y

      • -4.0% 348370.KS (Enchem): launches KRW10.50B convertible note due Jan-29

      • -2.9% 096770.KS (SK Innovation): sells partial stake in TerraPower to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power

      • -0.9% 6758.JP (Sony): to sell 51% stake in home entertainment business to TCL Electronics

      • -0.9% 7211.JP (Mitsubishi Motors): president Takao Kato reportedly to become chairman/CEO

      • -0.8% 004020.KS (Hyundai Steel): reportedly begins aggressive restructuring, effectively halving its rebar production capacity

  • Data:

    • Economic:

      • No economic data today

    • Markets:

      • Nikkei: (216.46) or (0.41%) to 52774.64

      • Hang Seng: 97.55 or +0.37% to 26585.06

      • Shanghai Composite: 3.29 or +0.08% to 4116.94

      • Shenzhen Composite: 17.10 or +0.64% to 2694.89

      • ASX200: (33.00) or (0.37%) to 8782.90

      • KOSPI: 24.18 or +0.49% to 4909.93

      • SENSEX: (49.82) or (0.06%) to 82130.65

    • Currencies:

      • $-¥: (0.24) or (0.15%) to 157.9160

      • $-KRW: (11.94) or (0.81%) to 1468.9190

      • A$-$: +0.00 or +0.22% to 0.6747

      • $-INR: +0.59 or +0.65% to 91.7051

      • $-CNY: +0.00 or +0.03% to 6.9630

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