Asian Markets Off to Solid Start
January 24 2016 - 9:10PM
Dow Jones News
Shares in Asia rose Monday, as expectations for stimulus from
central banks continued to buoy investor hopes after a volatile
start to the year.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rose 0.7%, Australia's S&P ASX
200 gained 1.1% and South Korea's Kospi was up 0.6%.
The Japanese yen, last at ¥ 118.50 to one U.S. dollar, was up
0.2% compared to its late Friday level in Asia, although it hovered
near its weakest since the beginning of the month. The yen reached
¥ 118.87 to one U.S. dollar Friday, its weakest since Jan. 6, as
investors reversed recent bets on the currency strengthening.
The region was gaining amid expectations that the Bank of Japan
might introduce fresh monetary stimulus later this week as well as
hopes that the European Central Bank stands prepared to introduce
fresh policies, too. The Nikkei soared by 5.9% on Friday, its
largest daily percentage gain since Sept. 9.
In the U.S. Friday, the S&P 500 rose 2%, helped by a rebound
in oil prices that boosted energy stocks, and a lift in iron ore
prices. The Nasdaq closed up 2.7%.
Still, some analysts were wary. "It should be noted that the
Bank of Japan has consistently disappointed the market expectations
for further easing over the past couple of months, and they are
more likely than not to leave their policies unchanged," Angus
Nicholson, market analyst at brokerage IG said.
Earlier, Japan reported that its exports fell for a third
straight month, by 8.0% in December from a year earlier to ¥ 6.338
trillion. Exports declined 3.3% in November. The reading compared
with a median forecast for a 7.0% fall in a poll of economists by
The Wall Street Journal.
Brent crude oil was up 0.4% at $32.55 a barrel. Oil prices
notched their second consecutive day of gains in the U.S. on
Friday, jumping 9% to $32.19 a barrel.
Gold prices were up 0.3% at $1099 a troy ounce.
Write to Chao Deng at Chao.Deng@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 24, 2016 20:55 ET (01:55 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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