SYDNEY: Asian stocks and the euro stumbled on Monday after a Greek vote against austerity measures endangered its future in the single currency and raised the risk of a full-blown crisis in the euro zone.
US equity futures dropped around 1.2% though they were off early lows. Japan’s Nikkei share index fell 1.4% while MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.5%.
Bucking the global trend was China’s stock market as a salvo of rapid-fire support measures from Beijing over the weekend prompted a much-needed rally.
The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen jumped 4.2% in early trade, while the Shanghai Composite Index soared 5%.
The gains only recouped some of the recent steep losses and it was far from clear if panicky investors who borrowed heavily to speculate on stocks would refrain from selling.
While the early price action was choppy across Asia, dealers emphasised that markets were orderly with no signs of financial strain and many assuming the European Central Bank (ECB) would step in with a pledge of extra liquidity at some point.
The Japanese government said it was ready to respond as needed in markets and was in close touch with other nations.
“A lot depends now on what the ECB does with liquidity support for the Greek banks,” said Antonin Jullier, head of equity trading strategy at Citi. “The ECB has the capacity to limit the spread of contagion.”
The euro was down 0.5% at $1.1055 but well above an early low of $1.0967. It had initially dropped around 1.5% on the safe-haven yen only to find a big buy order waiting, which vaulted it back to ¥135.48.
Likewise, the dollar recouped its early drop on the yen to be all but steady at 122.57. The dollar index added 0.2% to 96.279.
Demand for highly rated sovereign debt saw the US 10-year Treasury yield fall 10 basis points to 2.29%.
Fed funds futures also rallied as investors wagered the endless uncertainty in Europe would make the Federal Reserve more wary of raising US interest rates, or at least to tighten more gradually once it began.
In commodities, gold got a lift to $1,1680.30 an ounce but Brent crude lost 52 cents to $59.80 a barrel.
The latest reports from Greece said around 61% of those voting in the referendum had backed the government and rejected the bailout conditions.
