Asian markets rally, energy firms soar on OPEC deal

Hong Kong - Energy shares led a rally across Asian markets on Thursday after Opec hammered out a last-minute deal to cut oil output for the first time in eight years, which sent crude prices soaring almost 10%.

Adding to the buying sentiment was a better-than expected reading on Chinese factory output that provided fresh hope the world's number two economy was stabilising after years of slowing growth.

The Opec exporters' group, meeting in Vienna, said its 14 members had agreed on specific targets that will reduce production by 1.2 million barrels a day from next month, while key non-member Russia also committed to a reduction.

Both main contracts surged on the announcement, which ended weeks of uncertainty and volatility on crude markets as the key players bickered over who would shoulder the biggest burden of the cuts, leading to worries a deal would not be made.

And while both Brent and West Texas Intermediate edged down slightly in early Asian trade, regional investors poured back into energy firms on hopes the higher prices would boost revenues.

"The words 'Opec' and 'exceed expectations' have rarely, if ever, been used in the same sentence. However yesterday's production deal seems to have done just that," Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA, said in a note.

"Cuts have been shared across all members, including the recalcitrant Iran and Iraq."
Regarding the dip in oil prices on Thursday, Halley added: "I think the market in Asia is just catching its breath after last night's moves."

China factory boost

Still, the deal lit a fire under energy firms. Tokyo-listed Inpex was the big gainer, piling on more than 11% in the morning session, while Woodside Petroleum soared six percent. CNOOC ploughed more than seven percent higher in Hong Kong and PetroChina 5.5%.

Among stock markets, Japan's Nikkei was up 2.3 by the break, while Hong Kong added 0.9% and Shanghai gained 0.7%.

Sydney gained 0.6%, Seoul 0.1% and Manila two percent. There were also healthy advances in Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei and Wellington.

The removal of uncertainty provided fresh support to the dollar, which rallied towards ¥115, its highest mark since February, before easing back slightly. And gold suffered a sell-off, sinking 1.7% to $1 167 as investors walked away from safe-haven assets that are popular in times of uncertainty.

In China, official figures showed a gauge of manufacturing activity had hit its highest level since mid-2014, although analysts pointed out the reading was a mixed blessing.

"Underlying data shows that this is pretty clearly heavy-industry driven, with help from credit and little contribution from consumption," Christopher Balding, an associate professor at the HSBC School of Business at Peking University in Shenzhen, told Bloomberg News.

"While this may prop up growth in the short term, it is clearly not rebalancing or deleveraging."

And Raymond Yeung, chief greater China economist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group in Hong Kong, warned: "With this growth momentum, the (central bank) doesn't need to ease."

Focus now turns to the release on Friday of US jobs data. With dealers certain the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates this month; the latest figures could provide some insight into its plans for future increases over the next year.