skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Asian markets mostly rose Monday after Wall Street's three main indexes ended last week with their first gains in five sessions, while Hong Kong and Shanghai were boosted by hopes for more Chinese economic stimulus.
The euro held its own against the dollar and yen at the beginning of a week of key events, including Greece's bailout reform proposals and the release of US jobs data, which will be pored over for clues about the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rates.
Tokyo edged up 0.26 per cent, with investors brushing off news that Japanese factory output had fallen by more than expected in February.
Asian stocks crawled higher on Friday as upbeat U.S. economic data helped revive some risk appetite lost following air strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen, while the dollar rebounded.
Crude oil prices were slightly lower on the dollar's bounce after surging overnight on the escalating conflict in Yemen.
The euro was flat at $1.0883, knocked off an overnight high of $1.1052 after the encouraging U.S. data boosted the dollar.
The dollar stood was at 119.17 yen after pulling back from a five-week trough of 118.33 struck overnight against the yen, a safe-haven currency that attracts bids in times of geopolitical tension.
U.S. crude was down 1 percent at $50.87 a barrel after rallying 4.5 percent overnight.
Asian markets wound back on Thursday, in line with a hefty sell-off on Wall Street, after surprisingly weak US data hinted at ongoing weakness in the world's number one economy.
The euro maintained its recent strength against the dollar and yen, boosted by receding expectations of an early US rate hike and upbeat indicators out of the eurozone.
Oil prices also enjoyed support from concerns about unrest in the crude-rich Middle East following news that Saudi Arabian jets had struck rebel positions in neighbouring Yemen.
In early trade Tokyo sank 1.56 per cent from a 15-year high, while Sydney lost 1.30 per cent, Seoul shed 0.74 per cent, Hong Kong shed 0.30 per cent and Shanghai slipped 0.55 per cent.
Asian equity markets turned lower on Tuesday after a gauge of Chinese manufacturing plunged to an 11-month low in March, while the euro was boosted by hopes of a breakthrough in Greece's bailout talks with Germany.
Comments from the US Federal Reserve's vice chairman suggesting interest rates would rise slower than expected put further downward pressure on the dollar.
Shanghai - which rose Monday for a ninth straight session to a near seven year high - sank 0.60 per cent, while Hong Kong lost 0.33 per cent.
Tokyo shed 0.19 per cent and Seoul was 0.11 per cent lower. Sydney was flat.
Asian markets mostly advanced Monday following rallies on Wall Street and in Europe, while the dollar continued to struggle after the Federal Reserve dampened expectations for an early interest rate hike.
Tokyo rose 0.83 per cent, Hong Kong gained 0.37 per cent, Seoul added 0.10 per cent and Shanghai was up 0.63 per cent, marking a ninth successive rise. Sydney eased 0.34 per cent.
With few catalysts to drive business early in the week investors took their lead from their US counterparts, who have been cheered by the Fed's dovish comments on rates.
Asian markets mostly retreated on Friday as investors took their cash off the table after the previous day's rally that was fuelled by the Federal Reserve's dovish interest rate outlook.
The dollar was slightly lower against the euro and yen, but analysts said they expect the currency to resume its advance as the Fed prepares for a rate hike while the Japanese and European central banks print more cash.
Providing support to the euro on Friday was news that Greece has agreed to give creditors a new list of reforms within days in order to secure bailout funds.
Tokyo dipped 0.17 per cent, Hong Kong lost 0.21 per cent and Seoul gave back 0.21 per cent, while Sydney was flat but Shanghai gained 0.17 per cent.
Asian markets mostly rose Friday following a surge on Wall Street after unexpectedly weak US data tempered talk of an interest rate hike by summer.
Despite the easing rate expectations, the dollar maintained its strength against the yen and euro after retreating slightly from multi-year highs Thursday.
Tokyo jumped 1.08 per cent, Hong Kong added 0.11 per cent, Seoul gained 0.88 per cent and Shanghai put on 0.30 per cent but Sydney eased 0.62 per cent.
Hong Kong and Shanghai markets led a broad Asian sell-off on Thursday after China set tepid 2015 economic and trade growth targets, while the euro struggled to recover from 11-year lows ahead of a key European Central Bank meeting.
Wall Street provided a negative lead again despite an upbeat report on the state of the US economy and another round of healthy private-sector jobs growth.
Hong Kong fell 0.78 per cent and Shanghai lost 0.56 per cent, while Sydney slipped 0.26 per cent.
Asia markets mostly fell Wednesday following a retreat on Wall Street fuelled by profit-taking, with Tokyo hit by a stronger yen and Sydney dipping after data showed Australia's economy grew slower than expected last year.
With few trading cues investors are keeping a watch on the start of China's annual parliament meeting Thursday as well as European Central Bank details on its new bond-purchase scheme.
Tokyo slid 1.01 per cent, Sydney shed 0.56 per cent, Hong Kong lost 0.24 per cent and Seoul eased 0.13 per cent. Shanghai, which tumbled 2.20 per cent Tuesday, edged up 0.21 per cent.
Asian equities stuttered in early trade on Tuesday after healthy gains in the previous session attracted profit-takers, offsetting a strong lead from Wall Street.
Shanghai lost 1.03 per cent after rallying Monday in response to the Chinese central bank's weekend interest rate cut, while Hong Kong pared an initial advance to sit marginally lower.
Tokyo eased 0.21 per cent and Seoul was flat, while Sydney edged up 0.12 per cent ahead of a closely watched interest rate decision by Australia's central bank later in the day.
Asian markets were largely flat in morning trade Friday after the dollar firmed on US inflation data, while disappointing Japanese figures challenged Tokyo's war on falling prices.
Japanese inflation slowed for a sixth straight month in January - dampened by weak consumer spending and falling energy prices - its lowest level since Tokyo launched an offensive on falling prices and tepid growth nearly two years ago.
Tokyo ticked up 0.07 per cent, Hong Kong added 0.54 per cent and Shanghai edged down 0.08 percent. Seoul slipped 0.12 per cent while Sydney was up 0.37 per cent and Wellington added 0.08 per cent. Markets in Taiwan were closed for a public holiday.
Asian stocks broadly rose Wednesday after US Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen damped speculation of a rate hike before summer, and as eurozone finance ministers backed Greek reforms critical to avoiding a disastrous default.
The regional uptrend tracked fresh record highs on Wall Street and in Europe as investors breathed a cautious sigh of relief over the Greek package, which gives Athens a lifeline to pay its bills - for now - and sidestep an almost certain exit from the eurozone.
"The two potential international risk events for markets had positive outcomes," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.
"Janet Yellen's testimony moved expectations for a rate hike out in time while the boxes were ticked to cement a four-month funding programme for Greece." Tokyo edged up 0.14 per cent at the open, Sydney rose 0.28 per cent, Seoul jumped 0.74 per cent, while Wellington rallied 1.46 per cent.
Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday as investors awaited proposed Greek reforms that are critical to winning an extension on its bailout, while US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's Congressional testimony was also in focus.
Tokyo's Nikkei index ticked up 0.13 per cent, Sydney edged 0.08 per cent higher, Seoul rose 0.51 per cent, while Wellington fell 0.56 per cent.
Hong Kong was down 0.51 per cent in morning deals while Taipei jumped 1.05 per cent in post-holiday trade.
Asian stocks were mostly higher on Monday morning as investors cheered a last-minute deal to extend Greece's bailout by four months, giving Athens a lifeline to pay its bills and avoid a damaging default.
Tokyo led the charge with the benchmark Nikkei extending a 15-year high as it rose 0.81 per cent by the break, while Sydney was up 0.52 per cent, Wellington added 0.11 per cent, and Seoul climbed 0.41 per cent. Hong Kong fell 0.53 per cent.
Exchanges in Taiwan and mainland China are closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Asian shares picked up on a strong lead from Wall Street which bolted to fresh records Friday after the eurozone conditionally gave Greece the four-month debt bailout extension, easing worries over its future in the eurozone.
FINANCIAL markets in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea are closed on Friday for a public holiday.
Asian markets advanced on Monday following a record close on Wall Street, while Greece's leadership said it was upbeat that it could hammer out a new debt deal with its European creditors.
Japanese shares were supported by data showing the economy had exited recession, although gains were tempered as it grew at a slower pace than expected.
Tokyo was up 0.66 per cent by the break. Hong Kong added 0.14 per cent in morning trade, Sydney was flat, Shanghai put on 0.10 per cent and Seoul was 0.10 per cent higher.
