TRADE WARS
Asian shares surge as investors cheer slower US inflation
by AFP Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) Nov 11, 2022

Asian markets surged on Friday after a bumper session on Wall Street as lower US inflation dimmed expectations of more aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes.

Hong Kong stocks rocketed six percent at the open while Tokyo's key Nikkei index also surged, closing up almost three percent.

The gains extended global rallies after the US consumer price index (CPI) showed that the annual pace of inflation was a lower-than-expected 7.7 percent in October, down from 8.2 percent in September.

As US residents reel from sky-high costs, the central bank has moved forcefully to lower demand by raising the benchmark lending rate six times this year.

The latest inflation data should be welcome news to Fed policymakers, because prices are "finally showing some response" to the steep rate hikes, said Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics.

"Inflation has finally started to drop like a rock in the US and this is the best news that anyone can expect," added AvaTrade analyst Naeem Aslam.

The dollar slumped against rival currencies following the data release, and shares rallied as investors cheered the prospect of less hawkish moves by the central bank.

The Dow was up 3.7 at the close and the tech-heavy Nasdaq index soared 7.4 percent, while European markets also ended higher.

Most Asian markets matched the upbeat mood.

Taipei jumped 3.7 percent, Seoul was up 3.4 percent and Sydney climbed 2.8 percent.

Singapore rose 1.7 percent, Shanghai was up 1.7 percent and Mumbai put on 1.9 percent.

"As expected, buying in Asia tech is standing out this morning," Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said.

"But with investors still looking over their shoulders at the crypto schism and rising Covid cases in China, that tide that was lifting all boats is starting to recede in places," he cautioned.

Trade may also be "dominated by profit-taking and position squaring" after the rallies overnight and ahead of a US market holiday on Friday.

The crypto world has meanwhile been rocked by a surprise decision from Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency platform, to scrap a possible acquisition of rival FTX.com -- plunging bitcoin to a two-year low.

Noted investor Louis Navellier said the US inflation data was "a welcome relief" for markets.

"(It) takes stocks back to green for November and should let the seasonal rally continue with a little less fear of the Fed and more optimism about '23 earnings estimates," he said in a note.

Daniel Berkowitz, senior investment officer for investment manager Prudent Management Associates, however, struck a note of caution.

"While it always feels good to see markets rally, we think this morning's rally is bordering on silly," he said.

"The market is reacting as if this is the continuance of a multiple-month, downward trend in inflation, and it is not."

- Key figures around 0700 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.98 percent at 28,263.57 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 7.6 percent at 17,302.26

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.7 percent at 3,087.29

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.1731 from $1.1642 on Thursday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0231 from $1.0131

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 141.33 yen from 143.15 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 87.21 pence from 87.20 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.3 percent at $88.47 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 2.2 percent at $95.75 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 3.7 percent at 33,715.37 points (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 1.1 percent at 7,375.34 (close)


Related Links
Global Trade News

TRADE WARS
China factory gate prices fall for first time in nearly two years; As ultra-rich get squeezed
Beijing (AFP) Nov 9, 2022
Factory gate prices in China were down for the first time in nearly two years last month, official data showed Wednesday, as falling global commodity prices made their mark on an economy ailing under strict Covid controls. The producer price index (PPI) fell by 1.3 percent on-year in October, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), pushing it into negative territory for the first time since December 2020. The figure represented a reduction from September's 0.9 percent rise. "In ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TRADE WARS
Ukraine hails arrival of Western air defence systems

Spain to send air defence systems to Ukraine: NATO chief

Ukraine has received German Iris-T air defence system: minister

UK to supply Ukraine with air defence missiles

TRADE WARS
North Korea missile did not fly over Japan: defence minister

'Never happened before': South Korean island baffled by missile alert

US 'concerned' about possible Iran missiles for Russia

Space Force to partner with Johns Hopkins University SAIS for service-specific IDE, SDE

TRADE WARS
RDARS Eagle Nest Autonomous Drone-In-a-Box solution supports SpaceX Starlink Satellite Communications

Serbia strikes down drone near Kosovo: army

US Army's Q-53 multi-mission radar demonstrates counter-UAS mission

Spyglass short-range surveillance radar part of JCO-recommended Counter-UAS as a Service solution

TRADE WARS
Arianespace to launch EAGLE-1 for Europe's Quantum Cryptography program

Rivada Space Networks signs MoU with SpeQtral to develop ultra-secure communications

Elon Musk says SpaceX can't continue to fund Starlink in Ukraine

SIMBA Chain awarded SpaceWERX Orbital Prime Contract

TRADE WARS
US to fund refurbishment of tanks, anti-air missiles for Ukraine

US personnel tracking American-supplied gear in Ukraine

As Russia retreats, abandoned gear joins ranks of Ukraine army

Israel 'will not' supply weapons to Ukraine: defence minister

TRADE WARS
NKorea dismisses as 'groundless' US claims of arms supplies to Russia

Japan PM pledges to boost military capacity

Bern forbids Germany from sending Swiss munitions to Ukraine

North Korea 'covertly' supplying artillery shells to Russia: W.House

TRADE WARS
UK to remain 'bedrock' of NATO, Sunak declares

Swedish PM tries to win Turkey over on its NATO membership

Germany's Scholz calls on China to use 'influence' on Russia

G7 steadfast on Ukraine, cautious on China at German meet

TRADE WARS
New system designs nanomaterials that conduct heat in specific ways

Physicists generate new nanoscale spin waves

'Naturally insulating' material emits pulses of superfluorescent light at room temperature

Making nanodiamonds out of bottle plastic