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European stocks fell amid weak German data and elevated oil prices that reignited concerns over inflation. The Stoxx 600 index retreated 0.6%, sliding for a sixth day after German factory orders plummeted in July, a sign that the woes of Europe’s biggest economy continued into the third quarter. The euro jumped as much as 0.2% against the dollar after European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Klaas Knot said markets may be underestimating the chances of an interest-rate hike in September.
West Texas Intermediate held near the highest since November and Brent hovered around $90 a barrel — after breaching the level — as the largest Opec+ producers extended their supply cuts to year-end. Brent may continue to trade high on the supply cuts, with the price expected to hover at $90 from now until year-end and at $95 in the first half of next year, according to Heng Koon How, head of markets strategy at United Overseas Bank Ltd in Singapore.
“A key risk to our forecast of higher prices is further economic weakness in China that may reduce energy demand,” he wrote in a note. “However, the immediate concern appears to be sticky global inflationary risks as energy prices climb anew.”
The dollar was little changed against its Group-of-10 peers, but remained near the highest since March as Treasury yields pushed up across tenors on speculation a resilient US economy will prompt the Federal Reserve to keep rates higher for longer.
Yields were down slightly at the start of European trading. The greenback’s earlier strength prompted Japan’s top currency official Masato Kanda to say he wouldn’t rule out any options if currency moves continue. The Chinese central bank also moved to defend the yuan with another record strongest daily fixing, setting a stronger-than-expected fixing everyday since late June. The yen gained, while the offshore yuan steadied.
Asian stocks traded mixed, with benchmark indexes fluctuating in Hong Kong and mainland China, but rising in Japan for an eighth day. Chinese property developers extended their gains, with Sunac China Holdings Ltd up more than 70% before retreating, on speculations that more stimulus will come. Elsewhere, gold was little changed after declining the most in more than a month in the previous session.