- Honda and Nissan to launch merger talks
- Police arrest suspect who set woman on fire in New York subway
- China vows 'cooperation' over ship linked to severed Baltic Sea cables
- Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate fears
- Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions
- Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia
- Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
- Afghan bread, the humble centrepiece of every meal
- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- Daniels throws five TDs as Commanders down Eagles, Lions and Vikings win
- 'Who's next?': Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - December 23
- Melrose Group Publicly Files Complaint to the Ontario Securities Commission
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35
- 'Incredible' Liverpool must stay focused: Slot
- Maresca 'absolutely happy' as title-chasing Chelsea drop points in Everton draw
- Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout
- Three and easy as Dortmund move into Bundesliga top six
- Liverpool hit Spurs for six, Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth
- Netanyahu vows to act with 'force, determination' against Yemen's Huthis
- Mbappe back from 'bottom' as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- Ali hat-trick helps champions Ahly crush Belouizdad
- France kept on tenterhooks over new government
- Salah stars as rampant Liverpool hit Spurs for six
- Syria's new leader says all weapons to come under 'state control'
- 'Sonic 3' zips to top of N.America box office
- Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds
- Mbappe strikes as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- 'Nervous' Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- Pope again condemns 'cruelty' of Israeli strikes on Gaza
- Lonely this Christmas: Vendee skippers in low-key celebrations on high seas
- Troubled Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- 2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: military
- Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth, Chelsea held at Everton
Asian markets extend rally as optimism returns to trading floors
Asian equities built on a rally across world markets Wednesday as investors become less worried about the Federal Reserve's plans to tighten monetary policy, while more strong corporate results lifted optimism about the outlook.
And while there remains a lot of volatility and uncertainty on trading floors owing to geopolitical tensions and the Omicron spread, analysts remain upbeat for the year.
With much of the region still closed for the Lunar New Year break, business was again thin, though the markets that were open enjoyed strong buying interest following an upbeat performance in Europe and New York.
Tokyo, Sydney, Wellington and Manila were all up more than one percent, while Jakarta was 0.8 percent higher.
After a torrid January, world markets have enjoyed a strong rally over the past three days with commentators saying the selling may have gone too far and traders were buying bargains.
The positive mood has been helped by positive economic readings and comments from Fed officials indicating that the bank should be considered in their tightening cycle, with recent suggestions for a 50 basis point hike in March seen as too hard, too early.
Markets strategist Louis Navellier said the remarks revived the belief that the Fed was still prepared to step in to support markets if they suffered too much.
Still, the idea of five or six increases before 2023 has been aired on several occasions as policymakers battle to rein in four-decade-high inflation.
Observers remain upbeat.
"Fed tightening is still the path forward," Dennis DeBusschere, of 22V Research, said. "But a short-term rebound in equities will continue -- led by growth and cyclicals -- as investors focus on a narrative of 'peak tightening' ahead of what is likely to be a weak payroll report."
Carley Garner, founder of DeCarley Trading, told Bloomberg Television that while "stocks probably have a little further to move on the downside before they find a bottom", she thought 2022 would still end on a healthy note for investors.
This is "going to be probably the year to buy any big dip across the board in anything: Treasuries, stocks, commodities, everything", she said.
Traders are now preparing for policy decisions from the Bank of England and European Central Bank later in the week, while the release of US jobs data on Friday will provide the latest snapshot of the world's biggest economy.
Oil prices continued to rise, with Russia-Ukraine tensions fanning supply worries, adding to expectations that the global economic reopening and recovery will spur further demand improvements.
- Key figures around 0230 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.6 percent at 27,497.60 (break)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: Closed for a holiday
Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday
Dollar/yen: UP at 114.73 yen from 114.67 yen late Tuesday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1277 from $1.1269
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3525 from $1.3519
Euro/pound: UP at 83.38 pence from 83.33 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.4 percent at $88.54 per barrel
Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.4 percent at $89.52 per barrel
New York - Dow: UP 0.8 percent at 35,405.24 (close)
London - FTSE 100: UP 1.0 percent at 7,535.78 (close)
L.Davis--AMWN