WELLINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - Asian stocks are set to make
a strong start on Monday, as better-than-expected U.S. jobs data
fired optimism about economic recovery.
Wall St rose at least 1.2 percent, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq gaining 1.5 percent as Apple Inc hit a record high after announcing its iPad computer would hit stores in April.
Gains were broad-based after the non-farm payrolls report for February showed employers shed 36,000 jobs and the unemployment rate was steady at 9.7 percent, less than expectations for a loss of 50,000 jobs.
Financial stocks were also lifted by separate data showing consumer credit rose for the first time in a year.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street rose 2.02 percent, while MSCI's measure of Asia Pacific stocks excluding Japan was up 1.15 percent.
British and European shares both gained on firmer financials and commodity stocks, while concerns eased over Greece's debt crisis.
The jobs data saw the U.S. dollar rise more than 1 percent against the yen, while high-yielding currencies such as the Australian dollar also gained.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei is set to rise on opening, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago closing at 10,545, 175 points above the Osaka close.
Australian shares are also seen firmer, with share price index futures gaining 1.4 percent to 4,840, a 72.8 point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close on Friday.
HEADLINES: > Wall St rallies on U.S. jobs data, consumer credit > ADRs bolstered by U.S. jobs data > Dollar rises vs yen as US jobs data boosts optimism > BHP has deals for big share of 2010 coking coal > Essar set for $8 bln London listing-paper > Shell makes offer for Australia's Arrow - report > Toyota could delay Europe new car launches-paper > Toyota could start new US plant in June 2011-media > ICBC's 2009 total loan growth fastest in 3 yrs > Pru's Thiam aims to charm UK shareholders - FT > China SAIC sees 2010 sales growth to slow > Panasonic, Best Buy to link on 3D TV sales-Nikkei > China Unicom to slow investment, focus on 3G
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index +2.02
Dow Jones Industrial Average +1.17
Nasdaq Composite Index +1.48
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan +1.15
Nikkei futures in Chicago 10,545
Nikkei futures in Osaka 10,370
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - January current account
- Bank lending, money stock data for February
- Finnair brief on Japanese business
strategy
HONG KONG - Want Want China Holdings Ltd final
results
TAIPEI - February trade data
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)
((adrian.bathgate@reuters.com; +64-4-4714233; Reuters Messaging: adrian.bathgate.reuters.com@reuters.net)) For top Asian company news, double click on: U.S. company news European company news U.S. weekly outlook European weekly outlook Forex news Global Economy news Tech/Telecoms/Media Banking news Political/General news Asia Macro data ASIA STOCK MARKETS: Pan-Asia........ Japan....... S.Korea... S.E. Asia....... Hong Kong... Taiwan.... Australia/NZ.... India....... China..... DIARIES & DATA: IPO diary/data Asia earnings diary U.S. earnings diary European diary Hong Kong diary Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Asian Stocks Dow Jones/NASDAQ / Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt Currency rates Keywords: MARKETS ASIA/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Wall St rose at least 1.2 percent, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq gaining 1.5 percent as Apple Inc hit a record high after announcing its iPad computer would hit stores in April.
Gains were broad-based after the non-farm payrolls report for February showed employers shed 36,000 jobs and the unemployment rate was steady at 9.7 percent, less than expectations for a loss of 50,000 jobs.
Financial stocks were also lifted by separate data showing consumer credit rose for the first time in a year.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street rose 2.02 percent, while MSCI's measure of Asia Pacific stocks excluding Japan was up 1.15 percent.
British and European shares both gained on firmer financials and commodity stocks, while concerns eased over Greece's debt crisis.
The jobs data saw the U.S. dollar rise more than 1 percent against the yen, while high-yielding currencies such as the Australian dollar also gained.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei is set to rise on opening, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago closing at 10,545, 175 points above the Osaka close.
Australian shares are also seen firmer, with share price index futures gaining 1.4 percent to 4,840, a 72.8 point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close on Friday.
HEADLINES: > Wall St rallies on U.S. jobs data, consumer credit > ADRs bolstered by U.S. jobs data > Dollar rises vs yen as US jobs data boosts optimism > BHP has deals for big share of 2010 coking coal > Essar set for $8 bln London listing-paper > Shell makes offer for Australia's Arrow - report > Toyota could delay Europe new car launches-paper > Toyota could start new US plant in June 2011-media > ICBC's 2009 total loan growth fastest in 3 yrs > Pru's Thiam aims to charm UK shareholders - FT > China SAIC sees 2010 sales growth to slow > Panasonic, Best Buy to link on 3D TV sales-Nikkei > China Unicom to slow investment, focus on 3G
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index +2.02
Dow Jones Industrial Average +1.17
Nasdaq Composite Index +1.48
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan +1.15
Nikkei futures in Chicago 10,545
Nikkei futures in Osaka 10,370
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - January current account
- Bank lending, money stock data for February
- Finnair brief on Japanese business
strategy
HONG KONG - Want Want China Holdings Ltd final
results
TAIPEI - February trade data
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)
((adrian.bathgate@reuters.com; +64-4-4714233; Reuters Messaging: adrian.bathgate.reuters.com@reuters.net)) For top Asian company news, double click on: U.S. company news European company news U.S. weekly outlook European weekly outlook Forex news Global Economy news Tech/Telecoms/Media Banking news Political/General news Asia Macro data ASIA STOCK MARKETS: Pan-Asia........ Japan....... S.Korea... S.E. Asia....... Hong Kong... Taiwan.... Australia/NZ.... India....... China..... DIARIES & DATA: IPO diary/data Asia earnings diary U.S. earnings diary European diary Hong Kong diary Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Asian Stocks Dow Jones/NASDAQ / Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt Currency rates Keywords: MARKETS ASIA/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.