SINGAPORE, Oct 30 — Asian stocks looked set to rise as better-than-expected US growth data added to evidence of broadening global economic growth, with investors awaiting key earnings results and detail on who will helm the Federal Reserve.

Equity-index futures in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia climbed in most recent trading after the S&P 500 Index rose to a record high Friday. Profit reports due this week from some of the world’s largest companies will show whether there is enough juice in the earnings season to propel another leg higher for global shares. Bond and currency markets continue to be gripped by speculation around who US President Donald Trump will choose as the next Fed chair, with Governor Jerome Powell said to be the front-runner.

Trump last week stoked the sense of drama surrounding his choice for the next Fed chair as he tweeted out a video teasing an announcement he said would come this week. The president is leaning toward appointing Powell according to three people familiar with the matter. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda looks favored to steer monetary policy for another five years after his current term runs out in April, the Nikkei newspaper reported, without citing anyone.

Earnings are coming thick and fast. Sinopec and PetroChina probably improved earnings in the third-quarter as higher oil prices helped refining margins, analysts said. Their results are in focus after Exxon and Chevron each posted double-digit profit increases on Friday. Three of China’s big four banks report this morning after China Construction Bank Corp. earnings last week fueled optimism that interest margins and asset quality are improving. Shares have jumped this year on optimism that a regulatory crackdown has eased and that economic growth will boost earnings.

In Spain, the next hurdle in its battle with Catalonian separatists comes this morning when public employees have to decide which side to follow. Barcelona’s streets flooded with hundreds of thousands of pro-unity demonstrators, pressuring local lawmakers who pledged to defy Madrid’s direct control of the region. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday ousted Catalan’s President Carles Puigdemont and dissolved his government after it declared independence.

On the US political scene, developments in Washington will be closely watched after a US grand jury has approved the first charges stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with Donald Trump’s campaign, according to multiple news reports.

Here are some key upcoming events this week:

President Donald Trump has said he’ll reveal his choice to lead the Fed by Friday. The Fed’s next rate decision is on Wednesday, with economists expecting the central bank to keep rates at 1.25 per cent and to increase them at the December meeting. The US October payroll report comes out on Friday. this morning, personal income and spending data comes out, which features the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. Trump starts an 11-day trip to Asia, his first as president, on Friday. He’s scheduled to visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines for talks with leaders and to visit the APEC and Asean summits. Trade and security issues — particularly North Korea — will probably be in focus. A week packed with earnings releases culminates with Apple Inc. results on Friday.

And these are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

Futures on the S&P 500 Index were little changed as of 7am in Tokyo. The underlying gauge climbed 0.8 per cent Friday, when the Nasdaq Composite surged 2.2 per cent. Futures on Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average traded about 0.2 per cent higher in Chicago from when the cash equity market closed in Tokyo on Friday. Contracts on Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.6 per cent and contracts on Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.3 per cent.

Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index closed flat on Friday and up over the week. The euro was at US$1.1607 (RM4.92). The British pound traded at US$1.3131. The Aussie bought 76.74 US cents. The New Zealand dollar fell 0.2 per cent to 68.68 US cents. Reforming the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s monetary policy mandate could potentially result in lower interest rates, the new finance minister said at the weekend.

Bonds

The yield on 10-year Treasuries was at 2.41 per cent after rising to 2.48 per cent during the Friday session. Australia’s 10-year yield declined five basis points to 2.72 per cent in early this morning trading. Commodities

West Texas Intermediate crude was at US$54.09 after rising 2.4 per cent to US$53.90 a barrel on Friday, the highest in about six months. Gold was steady at US$1,273.58 an ounce after gaining 0.5 per cent to US$1,273.35 on Friday. — Bloomberg