Investors in Asia will still be weighing up the exclusive Reuters report on Tuesday that China is considering approving the issuance of over 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) in extra debt in the coming years to revive its fragile economy, a fiscal package that would be further bolstered if Donald Trump wins the U.S. election.
The news failed to prevent Chinese stocks from falling 1% on Tuesday, however, as weakness in the energy and property sectors dragged the market lower.
Perhaps the yuan's latest slip to a two-month low could put a temporary floor under stocks. Many analysts believe China needs a weaker exchange rate to boost exports and growth, and steer the economy away from the clutches of deflation. But policymakers must balance that against the possibility that the weaker currency triggers waves of capital flight out of China.
However, any positive sentiment may be tempered by another rise in U.S. bond yields and the dollar. The 10-year Treasury yield rose above 4.30% for the first time since July, while the dollar climbed to a three-month high on an index basis.
The dollar is on course for its biggest monthly rise in two and a half years, and second biggest in over a decade. Many investors will be feeling the pain - a month ago hedge funds' short dollar position was worth $14.5 billion, according to U.S. futures market data, and that has now been flipped to a net long position worth almost $10 billion.
