Asian shares extend gains on Wall St rally, euro sinks
July 23, 2014
The euro was wallowing at multi-month lows against the dollar and yen as the West considers another round of sanctions against Russia for its support of Ukrainian rebels who have been accused of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on Thursday.
Tokyo rose 0.10 percent, Hong Kong gained 0.25 percent, Sydney added 0.82 percent, Seoul was 0.18 percent higher and Shanghai was flat.
Jakarta rose 0.78 percent a day after officials declared business-friendly and reform-minded Joko Widodo the winner of the country´s tight presidential election.
Global markets rebounded on Tuesday on news that pro-Russian rebels had handed over the black boxes from the Malaysian passenger jet that came down in eastern Ukraine with the loss of almost 300 people.
US shares were given an extra boost by data from the National Association of Realtors that showed sales of existing homes in June accelerated 2.6 percent to their fastest pace since October. The figures are a boon for the economy, with the property sector a key component.
The Dow rose 0.36 percent, the S&P 500 gained 0.50 percent and the Nasdaq added 0.71 percent.
Also Tuesday, the Labor Department said inflation slowed to 0.3 percent in June from 0.4 percent in May.
The news will do little to add pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner than the expected mid-2015 range. The Fed holds its next policy meeting on July 29-30.
On currency markets, the euro came under pressure as investors worry about the effects of another round of expected sanctions on Russia, which has been blamed with supplying anti-Kiev militants in Ukraine.
With the eurozone heavily reliant on its giant eastern neighbour for energy supplies, there are fears the bloc´s already fragile economy could suffer as a result of any new measures against Moscow.
The single currency was at an eight-month low of $1.3458 in Tokyo Wednesday, down from $1.3463 in New York.
It also dipped to 136.49 yen -- its lowest since February -- after closing in the US at 136.62 yen in US trade, and well down from the 137.15 yen in Asia earlier Tuesday.
The dollar fetched 101.50 yen compared with 101.45 yen in New York.
Oil prices were mixed. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery was down 20 cents at $102.19 a barrel in mid-morning Asian trade, and Brent crude gained eight cents to $107.41.Gold fetched $1,308.08 an ounce by 0210 GMT compared with $1,306.89 late Monday. (AFP)
