Asian stocks steady as calm returns but jitters keep dollar firm

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Asian shares found some calm on Thursday following this week's heavy China-driven losses although the dollar sat at a more than one-year high against major peers, upheld by lingering safe-haven demand and expectations for tighter US monetary policy.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.06%, while the Nikkei lost 0.36% a day after Japan's ruling party chose softly spoken consensus-builder Fumio Kishida as its new leader and the country's new prime minister.

Worries about economic growth in China due to a worsening power crunch combined with fears of a global slowdown, hitting Asian shares on Wednesday.

However, the dollar index - which measures the US currency against six major currencies - hit its strongest level in nearly 18 months against the yen and in 14 months against the euro. It held these gains in Asian hours, and was last at 94.314.

"(The dollar) is breaking key levels and there was no real resistance to the break so that tells you there was real underlying strength to that," said Chris Weston, head of research at Melbourne brokerage Pepperstone.

"Sometimes, it can become somewhat of a magical currency," he said, pointing to the fact that it was supported by both global investors seeking safety and the Fed inching closer to reducing its massive asset purchases.

In addition, "the ongoing US debt ceiling stand‑off could briefly amplify financial market jitters and support the USD in the short-term," said analysts at CBA in a note.

US lawmakers continue to wrangle over funding the government but face a Friday deadline to prevent a shutdown approached, something that also capped gains in US equities overnight. 

In Asian equity markets, Hong Kong stocks fell 1% but these were largely balanced by a 1.1% rise in Australia.

Chinese blue chips gained 0.5% after data published early on Thursday showed China's services sector returned to expansion in September after COVID-19 outbreaks receded. However, but factory activity unexpectedly shrank as high raw material prices and power cuts continued to pressure manufacturers.

"It is likely that the power crunch in China will persist until end-2021, as the local governments are under pressure to fulfil emission reduction goals for this year," said Chaoping Zhu, Global Market Strategist, J.P. Morgan Asset Management in emailed comments.

"Investors might remain cautious on China’s corporate earnings (in the fourth quarter). Meanwhile, the volatile global market is expected to further weigh on investor sentiment in the near term."

The other main drag on investor sentiment in greater China was embattled developer China Evergrande, whose shares swung back and forth, and were last down 2.2%.

The company was due to pay interest on a dollar bond on Wednesday, but Reuters reported that some offshore bondholders had not been paid interest by the end of the Asian day.

Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both posted small gains but the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.24%.

Oil prices edged lower, extending losses after official figures showed an unexpected rise in U.S inventories.

Brent crude was down 0.14% to 78.53 a barrel, US crude dipped 0.03% to $74.81.

Spot gold traded at $1,731.99 per ounce, near a seven-week low, constrained by a strong dollar.