Dollar struggles in Asia, China data underwhelm

The dollar struggled to break back after its recent sell-off as investors fret over Donald Trump's lack of specifics on economic policy.

There was muted reaction to end-of-the-year data from China showing the world's number-two economy was still struggling on the trade front, with uncertainty over Trump's upcoming presidency.

After a global rally fuelled by hopes his election victory would see a boost to the US economy, trading floors are turning more quiet with talk that the surge may have been overdone.

Among the main losers in the recent pull-back is the dollar, which soared on expectations the real estate tycoon's plans for big spending and tax cuts would fan inflation and force the Federal Reserve to lift interest rates.

The dollar just last week was hovering around 118.60 yen but on Thursday dropped below 114 yen after markets were left with scant detail on the president-elect's plans for boosting US growth.

The greenback has recovered slightly but remains under pressure while it was also down against the euro and pound. 

"This is really a pause that we were looking to get even a month ago," Philip Guarco, global head of fixed-income strategy at JPMorgan Private Bank in New York, told Bloomberg TV.

"Rates had moved too far, too fast so we had this sort of reflation exuberance. I think we consolidate here and just wait to see what's going to happen in terms of execution."

However Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA, said he expected "the market to reload (dollar) long positions ahead Trump's inauguration and State of the Union (next Friday) where once again traders will brace for confirmation on the fiscal spend."

- China trade 'obstacles' -

Equity traders were given a weak lead from Wall Street, where the Dow's drive for the 20,000-point mark has stalled.

Tokyo's Nikkei ended 0.8 higher after losing more than one percent Thursday but Sydney lost 0.8 percent and Seoul 0.5 percent. Singapore added 0.8 percent but Wellington and Taipei were lower.

Hong Kong added 0.5 percent but Shanghai closed down 0.2 percent. There was little excitement over news that Chinese exports fell more than expected last month while imports came in largely as expected.

Figures for the whole year showed exports down 7.7 percent and imports dropping 5.5 percent.

The disappointing figures come as the country tries to position itself as a leader of the global trade regime in anticipation of an American retreat under the proudly protectionist Trump, who has promised to tear up global deals.

"There remain some obstacles facing China's foreign trade development," Customs spokesman Huang Songping told reporters at a news conference announcing the results, adding the international trading environment was "severe and complex".

Next week sees the release of economic growth data for the whole year. 

In early European trade London added 0.4 percent, while Paris and Frankfurt each added 0.5 percent.

- Key figures around 0800 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.8 percent at 19,287.28 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,112.76 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.5 percent at 22,937.38 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 7,323.47

Dollar/yen: UP at 114.70 yen from 114.75 yen

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0634 from $1.0614 

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2170 from $1.2163

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP five cents at $53.06 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: DOWN 10 cents at $55.91

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 19,891.00 (close)

Source: AFP