Asian markets mostly opened higher this morning, but reversed early gains after profit taking selling. Tokyo market fell in a choppy trade despite a positive support from Wall Street. This is largely due to a stronger yen and worries over some corporate financing plans. Korean market was down as foreign investors continued to offload Seoul stocks.
US stocks posted a strong gain overnight boosted by better-than-expected home sales. Existing-home sales increased by 10.1 per cent to a 6.1 million annual rate, from 5.54 million in September, the National Association of Realtors said. The US dollar was weaker on Monday on expectations that the interest rate would remain at near zero.
Asian bourses opened mixed on Thursday after Wall Street posted a small gain overnight. US dollar's rebound provides an excuse for investors to lock in profits from the recent rallies. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index pared its early gains this morning after a touch of a fresh 15 month high. Tokyo stocks fell on jitters over a series of corporate fund raising plans.
Asian share markets continue a winning streak on Thursday following the good leads from Wall Street. Japan's Nikkei stock index rose in early trade as exporters were lifted by confidence in global recovery. Korean central bank decided to keep rates unchanged at a record-low 2 per cent.
Toll Holdings (ASX:TOL) today announced the acquisition of Footwork Express, a Japanese express freight operator and one of the top ten domestic logistics providers in Japan.
Overnight Wall Street extended its gains on Reserve Bank of Australia's unexpected decision to raise the official interest rate. Investors saw the first rate hike in advanced economies since the global financial crisis as a key indication of recovery. The move also pushed commodities higher with gold soaring to a record.
US shares rebounded on Monday after a losing week hit by a series of disappointing economic reports. The market gained as Goldman Sachs recommended large banks and a report showed service industries returned to growth after 11 months of contraction.
