TOKYO, June 4 — Asian shares rose to a two-month high today as expectations of further government stimulus supported investor confidence in an economic recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.43 per cent, earlier touching the highest since March 9.
Shares in Australia rose 0.93 per cent after the country’s prime minister unveiled a fourth stimulus package to repair the economy, this time aimed at the battered construction sector.
Chinese shares were little changed due to lingering worries about diplomatic tension between the United States and China, while US stock futures fell 0.15 per cent.
Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.03 per cent, German DAX futures were up 0.17 per cent, while FTSE futures were down 0.1 per cent, suggesting a cautious start for European equities.
The euro held onto gains before a European Central Bank meeting later today, where policymakers are expected to increase debt purchases to support the bloc’s weakest economies.
Oil prices fell, reversing gains made the previous session, due to uncertainty about supply cuts by major producers.
Markets for risk assets have been on a tear in recent days, carrying some stock market indexes to within sight of levels before the coronavirus outbreak.
The Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average are close to overtaking all-time closing highs registered in February.
“Liquidity provision by central banks — and expectations that more is coming — is helping to support the recent drive in risk markets,” ANZ Research senior economist Liz Kendall and strategist David Croy, said in a note early today.
Hong Kong’s stock market fell 0.11 per cent, hobbled by concerns about Beijing’s new national security law for the former British colony and protests in the city’s legislature over a separate bill related to China’s national anthem.
Chinese airline shares also fell after US President Donald Trump’s administration said yesterday it will bar Chinese passenger carriers from flying to the United States from June 16.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese shares rose 0.41 per cent and South Korean stocks gained 0.28 per cent.
The euro held near multi-month highs amid growing expectations the ECB will increase the size of its €750 billion (RM3.59 trillion) Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme, when it meets today.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year eased slightly to 0.7475 per cent in Asia today.
A closely watched part of the US Treasury yield curve measuring the gap between yields on two — and 10-year Treasury notes, reached 55 basis points yesterday, the steepest level since mid-March. A steepening curve often points to a stronger economy.
Governments around the world have gradually started to lift tough lockdown measures imposed to contain the coronavirus which has infected nearly 6.4 million people and killed over 379,000.
Markets await tomorrow's US Labour Department May jobs report, which is expected to show the unemployment rate soaring to a post-World War Two high of nearly 20 per cent from 14.7 per cent in April.
Yesterday, a report showed US private payrolls fell less than expected in May, suggesting layoffs were abating as businesses reopen.
US crude fell 2.04 per cent to US$36.53 (RM156.28) a barrel. Brent crude fell 1.41 per cent to US$39.23 per barrel, having touched highs above US$40 a barrel for the first time since early March.
Spot gold rose 0.25 per cent to US$1,701.28 an ounce early today after losing 1.6 per cent yesterday. — Reuters
