WELLINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Asian stocks may start higher
on Monday, tapping into a positive economic mood as the focus
turns to corporate activity and earnings this week.
The main Wall Street indices added between 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent on Friday as investors took a mixed U.S. non-farm payrolls report as generally backing the view that the economy is improving. The S&P 500 index posted its best week in nine.
The world's largest economy added fewer jobs than expected in January, although the unemployment rate fell. For details, see
The U.S. dollar and Treasury yields both gained on the closely-watched data, with the greenback seen likely to reverse some of the previous week's losses against the euro.
Investors are seen as showing more demand for consumer discretionary and technology stocks and out of recent strong performers in energy and materials as the economic mood picks up.
In Egypt the government and opposition held talks on ending the political crisis as tensions remained high, although some signs of normality returned on Sunday as banks opened their doors for the first time in a week.
British and European shares both rose 0.2 percent, as the mixed U.S. jobs report kept investors on edge, with banks and construction stocks leading the gains.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street fell 0.3 percent.
The lunar new year holiday continues, with markets in China, Taiwan and Vietnam closed.
Japanese markets are set for a solid start, helped by a weaker yen, and hopes of further corporate activity in the wake of the planned merger between Nippon Steel Corp and Sumitomo Metal Industries. See
Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 110 points above the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian stocks are set for a flat start with share price index futures up 8 points to 4,852, a 10.7 point discount to the close of the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index. Profit warnings may weigh on sentiment but will be offset to a degree by mining stocks buoyed by strong metals prices.
HEADLINES: > Egypt opposition: Talks to end crisis not enough > Genzyme,Sanofi brds meet to discuss deal -sources > For Bernanke, no escaping politics now > ECB to hike rates if no yr-end inflation slowdown > U.S. to force Wall Street to defer half of bonuses > Oil may top $110 on Egypt unrest -Kuwait official > Nasdaq hackers another blow to investor confidence > US fiscal panel co-chair blasts critics as 'jerks' > Tunisia takes steps to halt 'security breakdown' > Obama calls on business to do more to boost US
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.27
Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.25
Nasdaq Composite Index +0.56
Nikkei futures in Chicago 10,640
Nikkei futures in Osaka 10,530
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
JAPAN - Suzuki Motor Corp Q3 results
- Japan Tobacco Q3 results
AUSTRALIA - Retail sales, December
- Job advertisements, January
CHINA - Lunar New Year holiday
(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 2011. 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.
The main Wall Street indices added between 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent on Friday as investors took a mixed U.S. non-farm payrolls report as generally backing the view that the economy is improving. The S&P 500 index posted its best week in nine.
The world's largest economy added fewer jobs than expected in January, although the unemployment rate fell. For details, see
The U.S. dollar and Treasury yields both gained on the closely-watched data, with the greenback seen likely to reverse some of the previous week's losses against the euro.
Investors are seen as showing more demand for consumer discretionary and technology stocks and out of recent strong performers in energy and materials as the economic mood picks up.
In Egypt the government and opposition held talks on ending the political crisis as tensions remained high, although some signs of normality returned on Sunday as banks opened their doors for the first time in a week.
British and European shares both rose 0.2 percent, as the mixed U.S. jobs report kept investors on edge, with banks and construction stocks leading the gains.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street fell 0.3 percent.
The lunar new year holiday continues, with markets in China, Taiwan and Vietnam closed.
Japanese markets are set for a solid start, helped by a weaker yen, and hopes of further corporate activity in the wake of the planned merger between Nippon Steel Corp and Sumitomo Metal Industries. See
Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 110 points above the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian stocks are set for a flat start with share price index futures up 8 points to 4,852, a 10.7 point discount to the close of the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index. Profit warnings may weigh on sentiment but will be offset to a degree by mining stocks buoyed by strong metals prices.
HEADLINES: > Egypt opposition: Talks to end crisis not enough > Genzyme,Sanofi brds meet to discuss deal -sources > For Bernanke, no escaping politics now > ECB to hike rates if no yr-end inflation slowdown > U.S. to force Wall Street to defer half of bonuses > Oil may top $110 on Egypt unrest -Kuwait official > Nasdaq hackers another blow to investor confidence > US fiscal panel co-chair blasts critics as 'jerks' > Tunisia takes steps to halt 'security breakdown' > Obama calls on business to do more to boost US
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.27
Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.25
Nasdaq Composite Index +0.56
Nikkei futures in Chicago 10,640
Nikkei futures in Osaka 10,530
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
JAPAN - Suzuki Motor Corp Q3 results
- Japan Tobacco Q3 results
AUSTRALIA - Retail sales, December
- Job advertisements, January
CHINA - Lunar New Year holiday
(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 2011. 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.