The major stock indexes in the Asia-Pacific Stock Exchanges plummeted on Tuesday morning, which is influenced by the negative dynamics in the markets located overseas. US stocks continue to fall rapidly, which negatively affects the state of affairs around the world.
Meanwhile, the main concern of market participants is primarily associated with the rapid increase in the number of new cases of coronavirus infection around the world. In some regions, the epidemiological situation has already escalated to the limit. The governments of the states have no choice but to continue the introduction of severe restrictive quarantine measures, which, among other things, seriously undermine economic growth.
In addition, approval of a new financial incentive program in the United States of America remains a topical issue. Support for the country's economy is urgently needed, especially against the backdrop of the growing spread of COVID-19. The fact that support will be provided sooner or later somewhat encourages investors, but the very expectation makes them a little nervous, especially since the negotiation process is very difficult, and the deadlines for making final decisions have not been specified.
According to the latest data, the initiative group, which includes members of two US parties - Republican and Democratic, put forward a proposal to split the new package of financial incentives into two separate parts, which will then provide support to different sectors of the economy. The first part is supposed to be spent as injections for small businesses, as well as assistance to unemployed citizens of the country. The total volume of its financing may amount to $748 billion. The second part will be directed to local authorities, as well as to the sector for protecting companies from claims arising amid the crisis associated with the spread of coronavirus infection. The volume of this package should be at least $160 billion. According to experts, the first part may receive broad support in Congress very soon, which looks promising for the stock markets.
Japan's Nikkei 225 Index fell 0.2%.
China's Shanghai Composite Index sank 0.3%. The Hong Kong index was no exception: it lost 0.85%, and this is given the fact that the statistical data on the economy, which came just the day before, turned out to be more than positive.
In particular, the level of retail sales in the country over the last month of autumn increased by 5% at once compared to the same indicator of the last year. It should be noted that this growth has been going on for four months in a row and its limitation has not yet been indicated. Thus, the indicator was able to reach its maximum level for almost a year. The experts' preliminary assumptions were not justified: the real data turned out to be slightly lower than the predicted ones. Growth was expected in the region of 5.5%.
The level of industrial production in the PRC also grew by the results of the last month by 7% on an annualized basis. This became the maximum value in almost a year and a half. In this case, preliminary forecasts were fully justified.
The rise was also recorded in the investment sector of China from January to November of this year. The increase was 2.6% compared to last year's data. Analysts' assumption in this area turned out to be correct as well.
South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.4%.
The Australian S&P/ASX 200 Index sank 0.43%.
