China shares gain on latest policy steps, dollar buoyed by Fed view

By Kevin Buckland

TOKYO (Reuters) -China stocks rose on Friday as the central bank officially launched a swap facility aimed at boosting the equity market, although shares elsewhere in Asia were mixed in the wake of data confirming a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.

The dollar hovered close to an 11-week high versus major peers on Friday after robust U.S. economic data allowed for a more patient path of Federal Reserve easing.

The U.S. currency was also supported by recent market contemplation of a potential election victory for Donald Trump, whose proposed tariffs and immigration policies are seen as inflationary. That helped gold push to a new record high.

Mainland Chinese blue chips were up 0.68% as of 0257 GMT, reversing earlier declines, after the People's Bank of China said the new Securities, Fund, and Insurance Swap Facility would start operating that day. The central bank also urged key financial institutions to swiftly implement policies to support the economy and capital markets.

China's central bank governor also flagged more interest rate cuts in a speech to a financial forum.

Beijing unveiled the biggest stimulus since the pandemic late last month, but investors have been frustrated by the lack of details offered by Chinese authorities in subsequent briefings.

China's economy expanded 0.9% in the third quarter from the previous quarter, data showed Friday, slightly below expectations for a 1.0% rise. The previous quarter's growth was revised lower to 0.5%.

The world's second-largest economy grew 4.6% year-on-year in July-September, beating a 4.5% forecast in a Reuters poll but slowing from 4.7% in the second quarter.

"In a general sense, this is very backward looking data," said Alvin Tan, head of Asia FX strategy at RBC Capital Markets.

"It basically confirms that the economy has been decelerating, ... which is why there is this stimulus that was launched," he said. "That's the one that people are really focused on."

Hong Kong's Hang Seng traded 1.14% higher, getting an additional lift from technology shares following solid earnings a day earlier at Taiwanese chipmaker and Nvidia supplier TSMC. Taiwan's equity benchmark climbed 2.62%.

Japan's Nikkei added 0.38%, helped by a weaker yen versus the dollar.

However, Australia's benchmark sagged 0.89% and South Korea's KOSPI slipped 0.44%.

The dollar index, which measures the currency against six rivals including the yen and euro, eased to 103.68, after climbing to 103.87 on Thursday for the first time since Aug. 2.

Overnight, data showed U.S. retail sales rose a stronger-than-expected 0.4% last month after an unrevised 0.1% gain in August. A separate report showed initial jobless claims dropped by 19,000 to a seasonally adjusted 241,000 last week.

Traders now see 73.6% odds of 50 basis points of interest rate cuts over the Fed's remaining two meetings this year, down from 85.6% odds a day earlier, according to CME Group's FedWatch Tool.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield stood at 4.0945%, little changed from Thursday, when it jumped 8 basis points.

"Robust retail sales data provided the Federal Reserve with greater flexibility in its rate path," said James Kniveton, senior corporate FX dealer at Convera.com.

"Unlike the euro zone, the Fed does not need to adjust policy to support the economy."

The European Central Bank cut rates by a quarter point on Thursday, as expected, and four sources close to the matter told Reuters that policymakers were likely to cut again in December.

The euro added 0.08% to $1.0839 after sliding to $1.0811 in the previous session, the lowest since Aug. 2.

The dollar eased 0.18% to 149.95 yen , after jumping to 150.32 yen overnight, piercing the psychological 150 barrier for the first time since Aug. 1.

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' edge over Republican Trump has narrowed from a late September lead of seven points to just three, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows. And the rivals are statistically tied in the seven crucial battleground states that will decide the race.

"The USD (is) well-positioned to extend its rally as it continues to price in a Donald Trump election victory," said Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG.

Gold rose to a new record high of $2,711.90.

Crude oil futures inched higher on Friday, supported by a surprise drop in U.S. oil inventories and simmering Middle East tensions, but prices were headed for their biggest weekly loss in more than a month on worries of lower demand.

Brent crude futures rose 0.35%, to $74.71 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 0.45% at $70.99 a barrel.

(Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Additional reporting by Rae Wee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Jamie Freed and Kim Coghill)