Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark retreating a fourth day, before a speech by Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda and monetary policy reviews from the U.S. to Europe this week. The yen held gains versus the dollar, while most metals and natural gas declined.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index of regional equities sank 0.8 percent by 9:57 a.m. in Tokyo, headed for a 2 1/2-week low. The yen climbed 0.2 percent against the dollar, set for the strongest close since June 26 after posting the biggest jump of 16 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg last week. Malaysia’s ringgit weakened a fourth day. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) futures were little changed after the gauge rose 0.1 percent July 26. Gold led precious metals lower, while copper dropped 0.3 percent. Natural gas futures (HIA) lost 2.3 percent.
The Federal Open Market Committee convenes July 30-31, with reports this week expected to show economic growth weakened in the second quarter and employers added fewer workers this month. The European Central Bank and Bank of England also meet this week, after both signaled earlier in the month that they will keep interest rates low. Japanese retail sales rose 1.6 percent from a year earlier in June, figures today showed, below the 2.1 percent estimate in a Bloomberg survey.
“It’s a big week with earnings reports, central bank meetings, and of course U.S. payrolls,” Nader Naeimi, Sydney-based head of dynamic asset allocation at AMP Capital Investors Ltd., which manages more than $130 billion, said by phone. “Investors will be paying a lot of attention to these and studying the implications for Fed tapering arguments. Where markets go from here depends a lot on the data and the Fed.”
Gold dropped 0.3 percent to $1,328.97 an ounce, falling a second day, while silver sank 0.5 percent, platinum lost 0.2 percent and palladium slipped 0.3 percent.
Speculation the Fed will hold back on easing stimulus is fueling wagers betting on a gold rally, with net-long positions up 26 percent as of July 23, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data show.
Copper for three-month delivery on the London Metal Exchange sank a third day, poised for the lowest close since July 10, as zinc and tin retreated at least 0.2 percent.
West Texas Intermediate crude was unchanged at $104.70 a barrel after slipping 0.8 percent July 26. Oil declined at the end of last week on speculation China’s plans to cut excess manufacturing capacity will reduce fuel consumption.
Gas futures retreated a fourth day. Contracts on rubber maturing in January declined 2.2 percent.
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