Asia extends global stocks rally on rate optimism, jobs in focus

Equities continued their worldwide surge on Friday, as investors were swept up in a wave of optimism that the Federal Reserve’s cycle of interest rate hikes had come to a stop, with all eyes now on the publication of US employment data.

After a two-month hiatus, markets have regained some of their vigour after the US Federal Reserve kept borrowing prices on rest for the second time in a row and signalled that no more were on the way.

While Fed Chairman Jerome Powell left the door open for another rate hike as authorities battled to bring inflation down, markets were dubious, with rising Treasury rates seen as a replacement for more tightening.

The news provided fresh hope that the Fed will be able to guide the world’s number one economy to a so-called soft landing and avoid a recession.

It also lit a fuse under equities Wednesday, and the rally continued in Asia going into the weekend.

“Asian stocks are coat-tailing the bullish momentum in US stocks and long-dated Treasuries as investors read in the tea leaves the strong possibility that the Federal Reserve has completed its cycle of rate hikes,” said Stephen Innes, at SPI Asset Management.

He added that the payrolls report later Friday would be pivotal.

“Too hot or cold could swing the pendulum to more ‘watchful waiting’ to see how the Fed responds or, worse, more imminent recession fear if the print misses by a wide margin.

“But coming in near or on the breadth of economist’s guesses would probably hit a high note for investors.”

Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore and Manila all rose more than one percent, while there were also big gains in Shanghai, Taipei, Wellington, Jakarta.

Solita Marcelli, at UBS Global Wealth Management, saw Treasuries falling further in the new year, and added: “The improving outlook for a softish landing for the US economy should also provide a positive backdrop for equities.”

And Capital Group’s Andy Budden added that “the really big message for investors is that this moment of central banks peaking is likely to be the opening of a window where it’s going to be a really good time to get invested”.

However, others cautioned that Treasury yields could remain elevated — keeping pressure on rates — if the economy continued to perform strongly, exacerbated by Fed plans to sell more debt.

Barclays co-head of global markets Stephen Dainton warned that this being the end of Fed tightening was “very unlikely”.

Still, traders are upbeat for now, with the dollar weakening as they get the confidence to find higher-risk currencies.

Oil was flat, having rallied more than two percent as traders bet on a pick-up in demand thanks to the more dovish rates outlook

The gains — helped by a weaker dollar — came after a run of losses caused by hope that the Israel-Hamas war has been contained and will not spill into a wider conflict in the crude-rich region.

But analysts said traders remained wary that the crisis could turn at any moment, and prices could quickly spike past $100.

Key figures around 0230 GMT

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 1.6 per cent at 17,499.33

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.6 per cent at 3,028.86

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 150.39 yen from 150.48 yen on Thursday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0624 from $$1.0626

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2195 from $1.2204

Euro/pound: UP at 87.10 pence from 87.04 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 per cent at $82.52 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: FLAT at $86.86 per barrel

New York – Dow: UP 1.7 per cent at 33,839.08 (close)

London – FTSE 100: UP 1.4 per cent at 7,446.53 (close)