* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4. * MSCI ex-Japan rise, Japan's Nikkei stumbles. * Chinese shares on firm footing on stimulus hopes. * Japan's GDP shrinks at fastest pace in 6 years. * Singapore downgrades growth outlook due to coronavirus. By Swati Pandey.
* Says to ease without hesitation if virus outbreak hits economy. * Calls coronavirus outbreak biggest economic uncertainty. * Sees some economic stabilisation in 2020. By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Kaori Kaneko.
Regulatory News: Vifor Pharma (GNHAF) today announced that it has agreed to purchase a US Food and Drug Administration priority review voucher. A PRV entitles the holder to obtain priority review for a New Drug Application or Biologics License Application thereby reducing the target review time and potentially leading to a faster approval.
* China's natural gas consumption in January saw its first year-on-year contraction in at least two years, data compiled by Chongqing Petroleum and Gas Exchange, a government-backed energy trading platform, showed on Monday. * Last month, the country consumed 31.6 billion cubic metres, down 1% from a year earlier.
Japan's economy shrank sharply in the final three months of 2019, logging its second-worst quarter in the past decade. That would be easier to stomach if it weren't because of a mistake policy makers have now made three times. In October, Japan raised its sales tax to 10% from 8%-- and spending tanked.
Copper prices rose on Monday, with the
London contract hitting a three-week high, as China lowered
interest rates on its medium-term loans to support an economy
hurt by the coronavirus outbreak.
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the central bank would consider additional easing steps without hesitation if the coronavirus outbreak significantly threatened Japan's economy and price trends, the Sankei newspaper reported on Monday. "We would need to consider monetary policy steps if significantly affects Japan's economy," Kuroda was quoted as saying in an interview with the daily.
Indonesia's trade deficit widened last month, as imports to and exports from China fell. Southeast Asia's largest economy had a trade deficit of about $864.2 million in January, official data showed Monday. That compares with the $382 million deficit forecast by economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.
* Euro near 33-month low as growth stagnates in euro zone. * Yen shows limited response to poor Japan GDP. * Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E. By Hideyuki Sano.
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