🧐 ProPicks AI October update is out now! See which stocks made the listPick Stocks with AI

Asia shares jump on Chinese trade data, pandemic still a worry

Published 14/04/2020, 02:39 pm
© Reuters.
EUR/USD
-
USD/JPY
-
XAU/USD
-
DJI
-
AXJO
-
JP225
-
HK50
-
AMZN
-
GC
-
LCO
-
ESZ24
-
CL
-
MIAPJ0000PUS
-
CSI300
-

* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

* MSCI ex-Japan rallies on Tuesday, Nikkei jumps too

* Signs of peaking in coronavirus outbreak helping sentiment

* Chinese trade data better than feared

* Confidence tempered by fears of global recession

By Swati Pandey and Koh Gui Qing

SYDNEY/NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - Asian stocks extended gains on Tuesday after China's trade data came in better than expected and as some countries tried to restart their economy by partly lifting restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak.

Analysts said some of the tail risks that had threatened a much deeper and prolonged downturn were starting to dissipate thanks to a slowdown in new coronavirus cases in major economies and a raft of monetary and fiscal stimulus globally.

Also boosting sentiment was data showing China's exports in March fell only 6.6% from the same period a year earlier, a smaller drop than the expected 14% plunge. Imports eased a modest 0.9% compared with expectations for a 9.5% drop. shares strengthened on Tuesday with the blue-chip index .CSI300 up 0.9%. Australian shares .AXJO were up 1.1% while Japan's Nikkei .N225 gained 2.2%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng .HSI rose 0.6%.

That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares excluding Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rallying over 1%.

E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 jumped 1.2%

It was still too soon to say the worst was over for financial markets.

"While a couple of tail risks appear to be moderating, markets are not out of danger as the impending activity and earnings growth hole in the global economy appears to be larger than we first thought," Perpetual analyst Matthew Sherwood wrote in a note.

"In the absence of COVID-19 vaccine we seriously question how much of the economy can re-open without threatening flare-ups in virus case numbers."

In Europe, thousands of shops across Austria were set to reopen on Tuesday while Spain let some businesses get back to work on Monday though shops, bars and public spaces were set to stay closed until at least April 26. the United States, which has recorded the highest number of casualties from the virus in the world, President Donald Trump said on Monday his administration was close to completing a plan to re-open the U.S. economy.

However, some state governors have signalled that the decision on when to restart businesses lay with them. Street indexes ended mixed on Monday with the Dow and S&P 500 falling while a 6.2% gain in Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) shares helped the Nasdaq end higher. Britain's finance minister told colleagues the UK economy could shrink by up to 30% this quarter due to the coronavirus lockdown that has shuttered businesses. a sign of worries about struggling global demand, oil prices barely reacted to a global deal to cut output by a record amount of nearly 10% of world supply. U.S. crude CLc1 was up just 27 cents at $22.68, well under its January peak of $63.27.

Brent crude LCOc1 gained 51 cents to $32.25 a barrel.

Skittish market sentiment helped gold prices XAU= cling to highs not seen in more than seven years at $1,720.1 an ounce.

In currencies, the dollar continued to extend losses on the back of the U.S. Federal Reserve's massive new lending programme. The greenback was a touch weaker against the Japanese yen JPY= at 107.62. The euro EUR= was up 0.3% at $1.0945. The risk-sensitive Australian dollar AUD=D3 jumped 0.6% to $0.6420. (Editing by Sam Holmes)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.