Energy stocks lifted in Asia

Energy stocks rose Tuesday after oil prices climbed overnight but most Asian markets sank despite a strong lead from Wall Street. 

Tokyo tumbled after a sharp rally in the yen and disappointing growth figures hit sentiment, while Shanghai fell after jumping Monday on hopes a scheme to link trading on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong bourses would be announced soon.

Seoul, Sydney and Bangkok were also down.

But bucking the trend were energy shares, which gained as oil prices held above $45 a barrel despite easing in Asian trade.

Oil had risen overnight after Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying that his country was working with Saudi Arabia to achieve oil market stability.

Saudi's oil minister had already hinted last week that producers could agree to limit output at an informal meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algeria next month.

"What we are seeing in the oil market is an effective jawboning by the Saudis, talking up the prospects of an OPEC deal to move the oil price up," Angus Nicholson, a strategist at IG Markets, said in a note.

Refiner JX Holdings in Tokyo rose just over one percent, while Sydney-listed Santos gained 2.5 percent and Sinopec in Hong Kong added 1.6 percent.

Mining giant BHP Billiton closed 0.5 percent higher in Sydney before it reported an annual net loss of $6.39 billion, its worst-ever result after being hit by the impact of a fatal mine dam disaster in Brazil and weak commodity prices.

Trading in other sectors was largely subdued. 

Tokyo fell 1.6 percent after a rally in the yen against the dollar. The yen's rise is a negative for Japanese exporters, making them less competitive overseas and denting profits.

It also came on top of below-par data Monday showing growth in the world's number three economy was flat during the April-June period.

"The yen is being driven by the dollar's weakness, spurred by increasing expectations the Federal Reserve won't raise rates this year," Nicholas Teo, a strategist at KGI Fraser Securities in Singapore, told Bloomberg News.

"This complicates things for Japanese policy makers seeking to stimulate Japan's economy. If the Fed doesn't move this year, there's a risk of steeper moves next year. That's very dangerous."

- Shanghai, Hong Kong ease -

Chinese markets also fell due to profit-taking. Shanghai and Hong Kong had been lifted in the previous session after the China Securities Regulatory Commission said Friday that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect scheme would be launched this year.

This was in spite of fresh economic data last week that seemed to show slowing growth in the Asian powerhouse. 

China launched a landmark "stock connect" between the Shanghai and Hong Kong exchanges in late 2014, which allowed foreign investors to trade selected stocks on Shanghai's tightly restricted exchange and let mainland investors buy shares in Hong Kong.

"Trading across the region is... subdued," Michael McCarthy, a chief market strategist in Sydney at CMC Markets, said in an email commentary.

"Naturally, energy and material stocks are finding support, but volumes indicate an overall lack of investor interest."

In early European trade, London fell 0.4 percent, Paris dropped 0.7 percent and Frankfurt declined 0.8 percent.

- Key figures at around 0820 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.6 percent at 16,596.51 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,110.04 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: FLAT at 22,910.84 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1268 from $1.1183 Monday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2937 from $1.2883

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 100.28 yen from 101.25 yen

New York - DOW: UP 0.3 percent at 18,636.05 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 6,916.33

Source: AFP