Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, +0.23% ) up 0.3%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.47% ) up 0.5%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +0.11% ) up 0.1% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.91% ) up 0.9%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, +0.27% ) up 0.3%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.32% ) up 0.3%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +0.34% ) up 0.2%
Asian stocks rallied, with the regional index headed for its biggest quarterly advance since 2012 amid optimism over global economic stimulus. The dollar maintained gains, while crude oil extended losses into a third day.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index snapped a three-day drop, rising 0.5 per cent by 9.58am in Tokyo to be set for a 6.8 per cent advance over the past three months. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures added 0.1 per cent following a second day of gains in the US gauge.
Japanese and Australian indexes jumped more than 0.7 per cent, with the yen and Australia's dollar near one-week lows. The South Korean won weakened 0.3 per cent. US oil slid 0.9 per cent, while gold held two days of declines.
Global equities have climbed almost 3 per cent this year as central banks from Europe to Asia bolster stimulus to address slowing growth. China announced measures aimed at stemming a property slump Monday after central bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said more can be done to support the economy.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, +0.35% ) up 0.4%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.02% ) flat
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +0.30% ) up 0.3% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.57% ) up 0.6%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, -0.08% ) down 0.1%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.13% ) up 0.4%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, -0.88% ) down 0.8%
Asian stocks outside Japan rose, paring weekly losses as US equity-index futures advanced. The yen held gains after inflation slowed more than forecast, while crude oil fell, trimming its best weekly climb since 2011.
The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding Japan Index added 0.1 per cent by 9.28 am in Tokyo, reducing its retreat in the week to 0.2 per cent. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index rebounded from its worst day this year, while Japan's Topix index headed for its first weekly decline since mid-January with the yen near a five- week high. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures climbed 0.2 per cent following the gauge's longest slump since January. US oil slipped 1 per cent, paring its 11 per cent jump in the week.
Core inflation in Japan slowed to 2 per cent in February, trailing the 2.1 per cent projected by economists. Retail trade data is also due Friday, while China reports on industrial company profits before an update on fourth-quarter US growth. Mixed data in the past week has fueled concern over the American economy as analysts predict the forthcoming earnings season will see the first contraction in profits since 2009. Yemen has emerged as the latest ground for a proxy fight between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, -1.42% ) down 1.3%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.14% ) up 0.1%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +0.33% ) up 0.3% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -1.34% ) down 1.1%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, -0.70% ) down 0.5%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, -0.78% ) down 0.6%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, -0.74% ) down 0.7%
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.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, -0.24% ) down 0.5%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.37% ) up 0.4%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, -1.05% ) down 1.1% at break
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.01% ) down 0.1%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, -0.04% ) flat
Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.17% ) up 0.3%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, -0.66% ) down 0.5%
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, -0.08% ) down 0.2%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, -0.61% ) down 0.5%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, -1.35% ) flat
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.30% ) up 0.1%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, -0.10% ) down 0.1%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, -0.40% ) down 0.4%
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.
Global markets have been on a broad uptrend since the Fed on Wednesday tempered talk of an early summer rate hike by saying there were still weaknesses in the US economy.
However, traders retreated to the sidelines on Tuesday after HSBC's preliminary purchasing managers' index (PMI) suggested manufacturing activity saw a surprise contraction in March.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, +1.07% ) up 1.1%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.57% ) up 0.6%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +1.63% ) up 1.6% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.06% ) flat
Seoul (Kospi SEU, +0.20% ) up 0.1%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.24% ) up 0.3%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +0.20% ) up 0.2%
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.
While the central bank opened the door Wednesday for a rise this year, it said there were still weaknesses in the US economy, including low inflation and soft manufacturing. The news sent global shares soaring and the dollar tumbling.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, -0.06% ) up 0.1%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, -0.28% ) down 0.3%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, -0.23% ) down 0.2% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.36% ) up 0.3%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, -0.31% ) down 0.4%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, -0.24% ) flat
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, -0.06% ) down 0.1%
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.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, -0.54% ) down 0.6%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +1.29% ) up 1.3%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +0.27% ) up 0.3% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +1.71% ) up 1.7%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, +0.45% ) up 0.4%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.72% ) up 0.7%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +0.89% ) up 0.9%
The euro and yen maintained their gains against the dollar, while most equity markets outside Japan rallied after comments by the US Federal Reserve cooled expectations of an early summer hike.
While the central bank opened the door for a rise from six years of zero percent rates, it lowered its forecasts for economic growth and inflation and stressed it would remain cautious before making any move.
The news sent US stocks surging, providing a strong platform for regional indexes.
Hong Kong climbed 0.62 per cent, Sydney surged 1.64 per cent and Seoul added 0.24 per cent, while Singapore was up 0.35 per cent.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, +0.07% ) down 0.1%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +1.05% ) up 1%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP SHCOMP, +0.86% ) up 0.8%
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.46% ) down 0.6%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, +0.17% ) up 0.2%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +1.15% ) up 1%
Asian shares got a boost on Tuesday from Wall Street's rise, as investors positioned for the possibility that weaker-than-expected US data will prompt the Federal Reserve to adopt a cautious stance this week.
Crude oil remained under pressure from a global supply glut, after US crude lost as much as 4 per cent in the previous session to hit a six-year low. It was last down about 0.4 per cent at US$43.72 a barrel.
The Federal Open Market Committee is scheduled to begin its two-day policy meeting later on Tuesday, and many analysts had expected the central bank to drop the word "patient" from its formal statement on the timing of its first interest rate increase since 2006. Economists polled by Reuters split almost evenly on whether a rate increase will come in June or later in the year.
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, +1.00% ) up 1%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.31% ) up 0.3%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +1.16% ) up 1.2% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.99% ) up 1%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, +1.88% ) up 1.7%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.49% ) up 0.6%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +0.43% ) up 0.5%
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, +0.01% ) up 0.1%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.49% ) up 0.5% (at break)
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +1.82% ) up 1.8% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.23% ) down 0.2%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, +0.21% ) up 0.2%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, -0.08% ) flat
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, -0.31% ) down 0.2%
Tokyo (Nikkei Average NIK, +1.49% ) up 1.6%
Hong Kong (Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.29% ) up 0.3%
Shanghai (Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +0.42% ) up 0.4% (at break)
Sydney (S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.75% ) down 0.8%
Seoul (Kospi SEU, +1.02% ) up 1%
Mumbai (Sensex 1, +0.36% ) up 0.5%
Taipei (Taiex Y9999, +0.16% ) up 0.2%
