Asian markets drop as recession talk builds

Growing fears of a US recession weighed on equities Thursday as traders gear up for the release of key jobs data that could determine the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision.

After a few weeks of gains fuelled by hopes the central bank would soon take its foot off the pedal in tightening monetary policy, data this week has fanned talk that its year-long hiking campaign may have gone too far.

On Wednesday, a report from the Institute for Supply Management showed the US services sector grew less than forecast last month, while another pointed to private employers slowing their hiring pace in March.

The readings came a day after news that job openings had fallen to their lowest level since May 2021.

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While traders have long hoped for a tightening of the labour market and an economic slowdown that would allow the Fed to stop lifting rates, there is now a rising concern of a deep recession.

Adding to the unease is ongoing uncertainty about the banking sector after last month's turmoil that saw two US regional banks go under and Credit Suisse taken over.

The upheaval was largely blamed on the sharp pace of rate hikes over the past year.

"While this sombre economic news might have otherwise been received as good news for the waning soft-landing crew, recent price action suggests that investors are weighing up the possibility that the US economy may have met too much resistance between higher rates and regional bank uncertainty, which could eventually tip the US into recession," said SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes.

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The prospect of a recession weighed on US markets with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in the red, while traders also shifted into safe-haven Treasuries.

And gold, another go-to in times of turmoil and uncertainty, stayed above $2,000 while heading towards a record high of $2,075.47 set in August 2020.

In Asia, the mood was also broadly downbeat, with business winding down ahead of the long Easter weekend.

Hong Kong and Shanghai fell as they reopened after a one-day holiday, while Tokyo was weighed by a strengthening yen. Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Manila were also down.

Jakarta was flat and Wellington edged up slightly.

Focus now turns to the release of key US non-farm payroll figures on Friday, which will provide the latest snapshot of the economy.

Still, while there was a glum feeling on trading floors, John Vail, of Nikko Asset Management, told Bloomberg Television: "We don’t see a recession in the States this year and that will surprise some investors on the positive side."

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Key figures around 0230 GMT

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.1 percent at 27,513.68 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.2 percent at 20,239.97

Shanghai - Composite: DOW 0.1 percent at 3,311.07

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0891 from $1.0905 on Wednesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2441 from $1.2458

Euro/pound: UP at 87.54 pence at 87.51 pence

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 131.09 yen from 131.35 yen

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7 percent at $80.07 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.7 percent at $84.43 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 33,482.72 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,662.94 (close)

Source: AFP