TOKYO — Asian shares were mixed in Monday trading as momentum faded from last week’s rally on Wall Street amid varied sentiments about coronavirus restrictions easing in China and global interest rate increases.
Benchmarks fell in Japan, but rose in China. Analysts say some investors are being cheered by signs inflation is abating in the U.S. earlier than initially thought, while they warn factors remain that could refuel inflation, including geopolitical risks.
“But it is far too hasty to declare a decisive conclusion to inflation risks,” said Venkateswaran Lavanya at Mizuho Bank.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225
NIK,
slipped 0.8% in morning trading. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200
XJO,
inched up 0.1%, while South Korea’s Kospi
180721,
advanced 0.2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng
HSI,
jumped 3.3%, while the Shanghai Composite
SHCOMP,
rose 0.8%, Stocks slipped in Indonesia
JAKIDX,
,
but gained in Singapore
STI,
and Taiwan
Y9999,
.
“We also have the Democrats holding the Senate while the Republicans look likely to control the House. Policy paralysis at a time of economic crisis is not a good look for what may lay ahead over the next two years. The current stock rally may have only days to run,” said Clifford Bennett, chief economist at ACY Securities, referring to the U.S. midterm election results.
Wall Street closed last week with a rally, amid hopes inflation pressures had eased. That would make the Federal Reserve less likely to keep raising interest rates. But some analysts said the Wall Street rally was overdone.
The S&P 500
SPX,
rose 36.56 points, or 5.5%, for its best day in more than two years, to 3,992.93. Its 5.9% gain for the week was its third in the last four and its biggest since June.
The Dow
DJIA,
rose 32.49, or 0.1%, to 33,747.86, and the Nasdaq
COMP,
climbed 209.18, or 1.9%, to 11.323.33. Both also notched hefty gains for the week.
Markets are getting a boost from China’s relaxing some of its strict anti-COVID measures, which have been hurting the world’s second-largest economy. Easing of restrictions translates to potentially more growth in China, a definite plus for the Asian region.
A report last week showed inflation in the United States slowed by more than expected last month. The Fed has already lifted its key overnight interest rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, up from basically zero in March. The likely scenario is still for further hikes into next year.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude
CLZ22,
gained 22 cents to $89.18 a barrel. U.S. crude gaining 2.9% to $88.96 per barrel Friday. Brent crude
BRNF23,
,
the international standard, added 29 cents to $96.28 a barrel.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar
USDJPY,
rose to 139.20 Japanese yen from 138.76 yen.
Read More:Asian markets mixed as investors eye COVID, inflation risks
2022-11-14 03:42:00