Upbeat US economic reports bolster sentiments in Asian markets

23 Dec 2011 Evaluate

Asian equity indices resumed gaining momentum in Friday morning trades, a day after slipping lower, as market sentiments got bolstered in thin pre-Christmas trade triggered by a slew of encouraging economic reports from the US. Investors were cheered by growing evidence of a rebound in the US economy as reports showed US initial jobless claims fell last week to their lowest in more than 3-1/2 years while consumer sentiment there improved in December to its highest level in six months. The markets mostly traded positive note, though some of the indices are not trading but others are up with notable gains on signs of a recovery in the US and easing concern over instability in North Korea. Meanwhile, marketmen shrugged off the data which showed US GDP grew at a 1.8% annual rate in the third quarter, down from the previously estimated 2%.

The benchmark in Taiwan remained the top gainer in the space with close to two percent gains while the shares in South Korea surged by over a percent following a slew of positive data from US and easing global liquidity concerns. Stock markets in Japan remained closed on Friday for a national holiday.

Shanghai Composite surged 31.56 points or 1.44% to 2,217.85, Hang Seng soared 201.27 points or 1.10% to 18,579.50, Jakarta Composite added 3.98 points or 0.10% to 3,799.43, Straits Times advanced 8.58 points or 0.32% to 2,673.38, Seoul Composite jumped 23.52 points or 1.27% to 1,871.01 and Taiwan Weighted spurted 137.40 points or 1.97% to 7,103.75.

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