Asian shares rise despite weak China data

Asian shares rise despite weak China data

HONG KONG - Asian markets climbed Monday as investors brushed off fresh evidence indicating that China's manufacturing sector is shrinking, while some analysts said it could prompt lawmakers to loosen monetary policy.

Japanese shares enjoyed a healthy rebound following a heavy sell-off on Thursday, buoyed by the yen's losses against the dollar, although investors remain on edge over the Crimea crisis.

Tokyo gained 1.77 per cent, or 251.07 points, to end at 14,475.30, Sydney rose 0.17 per cent, or 8.8 points, to 5,346.9 and Seoul closed 0.55 per cent higher, adding 10.61 points to 1,945.55.

Shanghai closed up 0.91 per cent, or 18.66 points, at 2,066.28 while Hong Kong rallied 1.91 per cent, or 409.75 points, to 21,846.45.

HSBC said preliminary readings showed Chinese factory activity had contracted in March, adding to concerns about the world's number two economy.

The British banking giant's flash purchasing managers index came in at 48.1, an eight-month low and down from 48.5 in February. A final figure will be released next week.

Anything below 50 indicates contraction, while a figure above points to expansion.

"China's growth momentum continued to slow down," HSBC economist Qu Hongbin said in a statement. "Weakness is broadly based with domestic demand softening further. We expect Beijing to launch a series of policy measures to stabilise growth."

The figures are the latest to suggest the Chinese economy, a key driver of regional and global growth, is slowing down following several months of weak data including on trade, investment and inflation.

But, despite the downbeat results, regional markets were broadly buoyant, with some analysts suggesting policymakers could start to loosen their grip on monetary policy to grease the economy.

"With growth poised to slow below 7.5 per cent year-over-year, we are now in easing territory for both fiscal and monetary policy," Flemming Nielsen, a senior analyst at Danske Bank in Denmark, said.

Japan's Nikkei surged on bargain-hunting following a 1.65 per cent dive on Thursday. The market was closed Friday for a public holiday.

Providing support to Tokyo shares was a weaker yen, which helps exporters. In afternoon trade, the dollar bought 102.61 yen, compared with 102.23 yen in New York Friday.

The euro fetched $1.3817 against $1.3794 and 141.80 yen from 141.87 yen.

Obama heads to Europe, Russia on agenda

Wall Street provided a negative lead, with US investors on edge over events in eastern Europe after Russia absorbed Crimea from Ukraine following a controversial referendum earlier in the month.

The Dow fell 0.17 per cent, the S&P 500 lost 0.29 per cent and the Nasdaq shed 0.98 per cent.

Markets are keeping an eye on Europe as US President Barack Obama -- who has led stiff Western sanctions against Moscow -- heads to The Hague for a gathering of world leaders that could see Russia excluded from the Group of Eight rich countries.

With Russia massing what NATO called a "very sizeable" force on its border with Ukraine, there are fears that President Vladimir Putin is hungry for more Ukrainian territory.

In oil trade, New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for May delivery, rose seven cents to $99.53 a barrel in afternoon trade, and Brent crude for May dipped 29 cents to $106.63.

Gold fetched $1,322.65 an ounce at 0810 GMT compared with $1,341.57 late Friday.

In other markets:

-- Taipei rose 0.33 per cent, or 28.21 points, to 8,605.38.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was unchanged at Tw$112.5 while Hon Hai Precision rose 1.53 per cent to Tw$86.0.

-- Wellington eased 0.12 per cent, or 6.38 points, to 5,118.62.

Telecom was up 1.26 per cent at NZ$2.40 but Fletcher Building fell 1.84 per cent to NZ$9.59.

-- Manila climbed 0.97 per cent, or 61.41 points, to 6,400.67.

BDO Unibank gained 1.34 per cent to 83.10 pesos and Philippine Long Distance Telephonerose 1.04 per cent to 2,708 pesos.

-- Mumbai surged 1.38 per cent or 300.16 points to 22,055.48.

Engineers India rose 6.73 per cent or 12.60 rupees to 199.95 rupees per share, while Muthoot Finance rose 5.16 per cent or 8.15 rupees to 166.20 rupees per share.

-- Bangkok lost 0.78 per cent or 10.60 points to 1,349.90.

Airports of Thailand dropped 2.34 per cent to 188.00 baht, while telecoms company True Corporation fell 2.17 per cent to 6.75 baht.

-- Jakarta ended up 0.43 per cent, or 20.21 points, at 4,720.42.

Tin producer Timah gained 5.43 per cent to 1,845 rupiah, while lender Bank Permata fell 1.85 per cent to 1,330 rupiah.

-- Singapore closed up 1.25 per cent, or 38.44 points, at 3,111.83.

Singapore Telecommunications rose 1.14 per cent to Sg$3.56 while DBS bank was also up 1.52 per cent to Sg$16.07.

-- Kuala Lumpur's main stock index gained 0.73 per cent or 13.37 points to 1,833.85.

British American Tobacco ended 2.4 per cent higher at 59.88 ringgit, while YTL was up 2.0 per cent to 1.55. Top Glove fell 4.1 per cent to 4.88 ringgit.

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