De Aziatische markten krijgen terug als de griepvrees van de V.S.- gegevenscompensatie
HONG KONG (AP) - de Aziatische effectenbeurzen kregen Woensdag als beter-dan-verwachte V.S. terug. de gegevens gaven investeerdershoop van een keerpunt in de grootste economie van de wereld en hielpen compensatie hun vrees voor pandemic van de varkensgriep.
Na twee dagen van dalingen, postten de meeste belangrijkste markten van het gebied gevarieerde aanwinsten. Voorraden van de luchtvaartlijn, die in recente dagen amid zorgen over de tol van de ziekte op reis worden dichtgeslagen, kaatsten scherp terug. De dollar versterkte tegen de Yen, terwijl de olieprijzen regelmatig waren.
De investeerders waren cheered na een dicht op gelete maatregel van de V.S. het vertrouwen van de consument steeg in April, kan voorstellen van Amerikanen klaar zijn opnieuw te besteden - een zegen voor uitvoer-gedreven Aziatische landen. An easing in the pace of home price declines also boosted sentiment.
Worries about swine flu and its impact on a world economy still reeling from recession have consumed the market this week. Countries everywhere have warned against or slapped outright bans on travel to Mexico, where the vast majority of cases are located, as new infections cropped up in New Zealand and Israel in recent days.
While the rapid spread of the virus, suspected in more than 150 deaths in Mexico, continues to inspire caution, many investors are waiting to see whether the outbreak develops into a full-blown epidemic.
“There are more flu cases today, but it hasn’t seriously escalated yet,” said Nicole Sze, Singapore-based investment analyst Nicole Sze of Bank Julius Baer & Co., which manages about $300 billion in assets. “Until we see a serious escalation the markets will likely trade in a range and be more focused on the economy and earnings.”
South Korean shares led the region after the country posted a record current account surplus in March. The Kospi benchmark rose 38.18, or 2.9 percent, to 1,338.42.
Chinese shares were helped by stronger earnings from China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Asia’s largest refiner by capacity, and the country’s biggest coal producer, China Shenhua Energy. Also comforting investors were signs there was solid demand for stakes in top lender ICBC, sold by foreign companies this week, analysts said.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 388.23 points, or 2.7 percent, to 14,943.34, and Shanghai’s main index added 2.8 percent to 2,467.51. Markets in Singapore, India and Taiwan also gained. Australian shares closed modestly lower after a seesaw session.
Japan’s market was closed for a national holiday and will reopen Thursday.
Investors sent Asian airline stocks skyward, with Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific taking off 5 percent and Air China soaring almost 10 percent.
The upbeat news about U.S. consumer sentiment also helped exporters that rise and fall with American spending habits. Retail goods and textile trader Li & Fung gained 9 percent in Hong Kong.
Overnight in New York, the consumer reading helped balanced out worries that large banks might need more capital following the government’s stress tests. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day down 8.05, or 0.1 percent, to 8,016.95 after being down as much as 86 ahead of the consumer confidence report.
Broader stock indicators also lost ground. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 2.35, or 0.3 percent, to 855.16.
Wall Street futures signaled a higher open, with Dow futures up 53 points, or 0.7 percent, to 8,020, while S&P futures were up 6.1 points, or 0.7 percent, to 857.9.
Oil prices were little changed in Asian trade, with benchmark crude for June delivery up 2 cents at $49.94. The contract slipped 22 cents to settle at $49.92 overnight.
In currencies, the dollar gained to 96.67 yen from 96.55 yen. The euro rose to $1.3177 from $1.3134.
