Asian shares rise after record highs on Wall Street

Reuters  |  SHANGHAI 

By Andrew Galbraith

Powell's comments, which were in line with market expectations, helped to push the S&P500 index and Nasdaq Composite to record highs on Friday, cementing the S&P's longest-running bull market, as defined by some investors.

In early Asian trade on Monday, S&P500 E-mini futures touched a record high of 2,885, and were last 0.2 percent higher at 2,882.5.

"Powell's Jackson Hole speech essentially confirmed the need for further gradual rate hikes and stressed that higher interest rates have served the well. However, rate rises remain data-dependent, and other Fed officials reiterated that 'nothing is predetermined'," ANZ analysts said in a note on Monday.

"The Fed Chair's reiteration that rate rises would remain gradual gave the green light to ongoing falls in the USD and increases in equities on Friday."

U.S. said in a interview last week that he was "not thrilled" with Powell's rate hike policy, seeking more help with the from the Fed instead.

MSCI's broadest index of shares outside was up 0.1 percent, while Japan's Nikkei stock index gained 0.6 percent.

Seoul's index was flat.

Australian shares were up 0.1 percent, following a week of political tumult that saw the Scott Morrison become the country's sixth in less than 10 years.

The dollar rose 0.05 percent against the yen to 111.28, while the euro was up 0.13 percent on the day at $1.1636.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was down 0.1 percent at 95.070.

U.S. crude dipped 0.23 percent at $68.56 a barrel, and Brent crude fell to $75.68 per barrel after rose last week, ending a streak of weekly declines on tightening supply, driven by the prospect of from

The has pulled out of a nuclear accord it signed with in 2015 and has imposed sanctions on Iran's and exports.

Gold was slightly higher as the dollar weakened. Spot gold gained 0.1 percent to trade at $1206.66 per ounce.

(Reporting by Andrew Galbraith; Editing by Eric Meijer)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, August 27 2018. 08:22 IST