Asian stock markets were mostly lower on Monday after China's trade figures underlined a
slowdown in the world's No. 2 economy.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.4 per cent to 21,001.87 and South Korea's Kospi lost 0.7 per cent to 2,004.24. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3 per cent to 4,199.80. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Taipei and Manila were also lower but Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.3 per cent to 9,960.79.
On Saturday, China reported
its biggest monthly trade deficit in at least a decade in February as imports rebounded after a Lunar New Year holiday slowdown in January, but the combined figures for both months showed growth in imports and exports decelerating markedly.
January-February export growth slowed to 6.9 per cent over the same two-month period last year, barely half of December's 13.4 per cent rate. Imports for the two months rose 7.7 per cent, down from December's 11.8 per cent.
The numbers suggest China's manufacturers are being hit by weaker overseas demand amid Europe's debt crisis. Weaker growth in Chinese imports, meanwhile, could have a ripple effect throughout Asia.
Investment sentiment was also tempered by news that Greece's debt reduction deal with private creditors could cause losses for banks after the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, the private organisation that rules on such cases, ruled that a "restructuring credit event" occurred.
That means
Greece's debt relief will trigger payouts of so-called credit default swaps, a type of insurance on bonds. But the ISDA said overall payouts will be significantly below the $3.2 billion in net outstanding credit default swap contracts linked to Greece. The exact level of payouts will be determined on March 19.
"Officials in Europe are set to finalise Greece's second bailout today but market sentiment is unlikely to be boosted as various concerns creep into the market," analysts at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong said in a report.
A multibillion euro bailout, which Greece needs to avoid imminent bankruptcy, was contingent upon the successful completion of the debt restructuring deal.
On Friday, Wall Street closed modestly higher after the government's monthly report on employment bolstered hopes that the economic recovery is on track.
The Dow finished up 0.1 per cent at 12,922.02. The Standard & Poor's 500 gained 0.4 per cent to 1,370.87. The Nasdaq composite average gained 0.6 per cent to 2,988.34.
Benchmark oil for April delivery was down 60 cents to $106.80 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 82 cents to settle at $107.40 per barrel in New York on Thursday.
In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3095 from $1.3116 late Friday in New York. The dollar fell to 82.14 yen from 82.52 yen.
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