AFP
Asia’s markets mostly rose yesterday, extending a recent rally, with a weaker yen boosting Tokyo while investors await the release this week of key US data and the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting.
The US and Europe’s imposition of fresh sanctions on Russia left Wall Street in negative territory, while the euro struggled at eight-month lows against the dollar owing to concerns about the impact of the measures on the eurozone economy.
Tokyo rose 0.18%, or 28.16 points, to a six-month high of 15,646.23, Sydney added 0.62%, or 34.46 points, to close at 5,622.9 and Seoul climbed 1.00%, or 20.64 points, to 2,082.61.
Hong Kong rose 0.37%, or 91.68 points, to 24,732.21 but Shanghai ended marginally lower, dipping 1.95 points to 2,181.24.
The Japanese market has enjoyed a pick-up in recent weeks thanks to a dip in the yen, which helps exporters, as well as upbeat corporate earnings. In other markets, Kuala Lumpur’s main index added 1.0 points, or 0.05%, to 1,878.34; RHB Capital gained 0.44% to 9.06 ringgit, Tenaga Nasional added 0.48% to 12.46 while Public Bank dipped 0.40% to 19.80 ringgit. Singapore closed 0.07%, or 2.43 points, lower at 3,353.65; property developer City Developments fell 0.57% to end at Sg$10.44 and Singapore Telecom was unchanged at Sg$4.0. Bangkok slipped 0.12%, or 1.76 points, to close at 1,518.79; coal producer Banpu fell 1.53%, or 0.50 baht, to 32.25 while Bangkok Bank added 0.51%, or 1baht, to 196.00.
Taipei added 0.59%, or 55.14 points, to 9,447.02; Hon Hai fell 0.48% to Tw$104.5 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co rose 0.4% to Tw$124.5.
Wellington slipped 0.14%, or 7points, to 5,158.55; Telecom was down 2.63% at NZ$2.77 and Contact Energy rose 0.18% to NZ$5.52.
Manila closed 0.25% higher, adding 17.12 points to 6,867.59; Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co gained 1.59% to 3,070 pesos and Metropolitan Bank and Trust fell 0.41% to 85.30 pesos.
Jakarta was closed for a public holiday.
Tuesday saw auto giant Honda post healthy second-quarter earnings and announce an increase in its full-year sales and profit forecasts.
That came a day after rival Nissan said quarterly profit surged 37%. In early trade, the dollar was at 102.16 yen compared with 102.13 yen.
