Stocks, FX kick off week steady; Indian, Turkish assets in focus

MUMBAI: Most emerging markets stocks and currencies edged up on Monday, while Indian stocks hit new record highs after a string of state election wins for the ruling party, and investors analysed Turkish inflation that hit its highest level this year.

India's benchmark stock indices hit fresh all-time highs, after the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured key victories in three of the four state assembly elections. The NSE Nifty 50 index advanced 1.9% to 20,656.40 points. The S&P BSE Sensex also gained 1.9% and hit 68,763.07 points.

"India's strong markets rallied"India's strong markets rallied further following the vote count on Dec. 3 as investors now expect political stability amid a fast economic recovery," said Shumita Deveshwar, chief India economist at TS Lombard. Separately, Reliance added 1.1% as the Indian oil firm was set to meet executives from Venezuelan state firm PDVSA next week to discuss direct crude sales following the easing of U.S. sanctions on the South American country.

MSCI's gauge tracking developing markets currencies inched up 0.2%, while the equities index added 0.1% by 0922 GMT. Last week, both indexes notched their third straight week of gains, extending November's rally as investors warmed up to riskier emerging market assets on optimism that interest rates in the U.S. have peaked.

Meanwhile, Turkey's lira weakened to 28.896 to the dollar, though latest data showed annual domestic inflation rose to 61.98% in November, just shy of expectations and rose to its highest level this year boosted by food and transportation prices. "Markets remain uncertain if further tightening is on the table and fear the CBT (Turkish Central Bank) might opt to halt the tightening before the local elections in March," said Bartosz Sawicki, market analyst at Conotoxia fintech.

The local BIST 100 stock index reversed early gains and shed 0.2%. Separately, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck the Turkey region, as per the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). In Hong Kong, embattled property developer Evergrande Group jumped 9.2% after saying it has been granted an adjournment of a court hearing into a liquidation petition to Jan. 29, giving it time to finalise a revamped offshore debt-restructuring plan.

Investors are also closely watching renewed fighting between Israel and Hamas following a seven-day truce that ended last week. Tel Aviv's main stock index was flat, while the shekel edged up by 0.4%. Poland's zloty dipped 0.1% against the euro. Late on Friday, ratings agency S&P Global said the new likely local government will be able to unlock access to EU funds.

 further following the vote count on Dec. 3 as investors now expect political stability amid a fast economic recovery," said Shumita Deveshwar, chief India economist at TS Lombard. Separately, Reliance added 1.1% as the Indian oil firm was set to meet executives from Venezuelan state firm PDVSA next week to discuss direct crude sales following the easing of U.S. sanctions on the South American country.

MSCI's gauge tracking developing markets currencies inched up 0.2%, while the equities index added 0.1% by 0922 GMT. Last week, both indexes notched their third straight week of gains, extending November's rally as investors warmed up to riskier emerging market assets on optimism that interest rates in the U.S. have peaked.

Meanwhile, Turkey's lira weakened to 28.896 to the dollar, though latest data showed annual domestic inflation rose to 61.98% in November, just shy of expectations and rose to its highest level this year boosted by food and transportation prices. "Markets remain uncertain if further tightening is on the table and fear the CBT (Turkish Central Bank) might opt to halt the tightening before the local elections in March," said Bartosz Sawicki, market analyst at Conotoxia fintech.

The local BIST 100 stock index reversed early gains and shed 0.2%. Separately, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck the Turkey region, as per the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). In Hong Kong, embattled property developer Evergrande Group jumped 9.2% after saying it has been granted an adjournment of a court hearing into a liquidation petition to Jan. 29, giving it time to finalise a revamped offshore debt-restructuring plan.

Investors are also closely watching renewed fighting between Israel and Hamas following a seven-day truce that ended last week. Tel Aviv's main stock index was flat, while the shekel edged up by 0.4%. Poland's zloty dipped 0.1% against the euro. Late on Friday, ratings agency S&P Global said the new likely local government will be able to unlock access to EU funds.