The bailout package for Greece has not stemmed the bleeding in global markets, but for Asia the declines in currencies and stocks may soon lure investors back in.
What we are seeing is Asia and the U.S. catching a cold from Europe, as violence grows in Greece over the planned austerity measures and as ratings agencies sound warnings on the fiscal health of others in the region, including Spain and Portugal.
Just as an example, Hong Kong’s share market has fallen three days in a row, losing 3.7% over that period, while the Taiwan dollar Wednesday fell to its lowest level against the greenback since April 9. Thursday, the Nikkei is down more than 3.0% and South Korea’s Kospi has shed 2.3%, with the Korean won around six-week lows against the U.S. dollar.
The declines in Asia, which have included a widening in credit default swaps in an otherwise encouraging environment for the region’s companies and debt, come as investors react to the latest woes in the euro-zone.
The contagion though for now is peripheral; it’s just the end result of a fading global mood for risk. Strip that away, and what do you find?
Asian banks have minimal exposure to European debt–certainly that from Greece, Spain and Portugal. It seems prudence continues to win the day. Asian banks and their economies came through the recent U.S.-induced financial crisis in relatively good shape precisely because they had steered clear of subordinated debt products and repackaged debt generally.
Asian governments have also–some more so than others–worked to overcome the frailties in their banking and financial systems that were exposed so violently when the Asian financial crisis hit more than a decade ago. That’s left systems in much stronger shape, and central banks much better armed with foreign exchange reserves.
The region’s economies have also been faster and more convincing in their recovery over the past six to 12 months. Many challenges remain, none the least from how and when to exit the large spending measures put in place during the crisis, and how and when to tighten monetary policy (as inflation starts to rise), but if there’s one place that offers any sort of sanctuary right now, it would be Asia.
The region needs Europe and the U.S. to keep buying its products, but intra-regional trade has taken up some of the slack, particularly from China.
Sounder economic fundamentals and a stronger banking system mean Asian markets may soon appear more attractive to investors in currencies and stocks (and also the better Asian credits), even if the Greek wobbles continue. It would take a lot more than what we’re currently seeing to suggest we’re heading anew for some sort of global banking or debt crisis.
That may mean the declines start to slow over the coming week as value appears.
