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GLOBAL MARKETS-Oil soars after Saudi facility attacks, weak China data hits shares

Published 16/09/2019, 02:28 pm
© Reuters.  GLOBAL MARKETS-Oil soars after Saudi facility attacks, weak China data hits shares
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(Adds analyst comments, updates prices throughout)

* Oil prices surge on fears of global supply disruption

* China industrial output growth weakens, hits risk appetite

* Stocks slip, safe-haven gold and Japanese yen rise

By Swati Pandey

SYDNEY, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Oil surged to four-month highs on Monday after weekend attacks on crude facilities in Saudi Arabia sparked supply fears, while shares in Asia extended losses as bleak economic data from China sapped investors' risk appetite.

Crude futures LCOc1 CLc1 on both sides of the Atlantic hit their highest since May, but came off their peaks after U.S. President Donald Trump authorised the use of the country's emergency stockpile to ensure stable supply. O/R

Trump also said the United States was "locked and loaded" for a potential response to the strikes on the Saudi facilities, which shut 5% of world production, after a senior official in his administration said Iran was to blame.

That inflamed fears about Middle East tensions and worsening relations between Iran and the United States, powering safe-haven assets, with gold XAU= up 1% to $1,503.4 per ounce. GOL/

"The bigger issue is what premium markets will build in to reflect the risk of further attacks," said Kerry Craig, Global Market Strategist, J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

"In the very near-term, we may also see a pick-up in safe-havens," he added.

"Central banks are likely to look through the inflationary impact of higher oil prices but the added geopolitical risk to an already fragile backdrop will not go without notice."

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS slipped 0.36% after data showed China's industrial production growth skidding to its weakest pace in 17-1/2 years in August. a dour picture of the world's second-biggest economy, China's statistics bureau said the country faces increasing downward pressure from external uncertainties.

China's blue-chip index .CSI300 eased 0.2% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index .HSI faltered about 1%.

Liquidity was relatively thin with Japanese markets shut for a public holiday.

E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 were off 0.5% while those for the Dow 1YMc1 fell 0.4%. AND CURRENCIES

In currency markets, the Saudi news pushed the yen JPY= up 0.2% to 107.85 per dollar while the Canadian dollar CAD=D3 rose 0.4% in anticipation of higher oil prices.

"If risk appetite collapses due to fears of worsening Middle East tensions in the wake of any retaliation to the ... attacks, some emerging markets could face a double whammy of pressures," said Mitul Kotecha, Singapore-based senior emerging markets strategist at TD Securities.

He noted that the Indian rupee INR=D3 , Indonesian rupiah IDR=D3 and Philippine peso PHP=D3 were the Asian currencies most sensitive to oil shocks, given their economies' dependence on crude imports.

Indonesian stocks .JKSE opened 2% lower on Monday, marking their biggest intraday drop since Aug.6.

The euro EUR=D3 was little moved near a three-week top while the pound GBP=D3 stepped back from Friday's two-month highs. That left the greenback down 0.1% at 98.126 against a basket of six major currencies .DXY .

The Australian dollar, a major risk proxy, fell 0.5% against the yen AUDJPY= , snapping nine straight days of gains. The kiwi dollar NZDJPY=R slipped to a one-week low on the yen.

"One immediate question this (attack) poses for bond markets is whether a further rise in the inflation expectations component of bond yields - which have proved historically sensitive to oil prices - will give this month's sharp bond market sell-off fresh impetus," said NAB analyst Ray Attrill.

"Or will safe-haven considerations dominate to drive yields lower?"

Futures for U.S. 10-year Treasury notes TYv1 rose 0.3%, indicating yields may slip when cash trading begins. bonds were sold off last week, sending yields higher, led by a broader risk rally on hopes the United States and China would soon end their long trade war. Better-than-expected U.S. retail sales data also boosted sentiment.

Investors now await the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy meeting on Wednesday at which it is widely expected to ease interest rates and signal its future policy path. FEDWATCH

"The markets will look to the Fed as a key pillar of support and that will increasingly be in focus for global markets as the week goes on," JPMorgan's Craig added.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Editing by Sam Holmes and Himani Sarkar)

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