Major Asian markets largely higher after Wall Street hits record

People look at an electronic stock indicator of a securities firm in Tokyo on April 23, 2015. Shanghai led several major Asian bourses higher Monday as traders bet on fresh economy-boosting measures in China, while another record-breaking close on Wall Street also provided support. AP PHOTO/SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI

HONG KONG–Shanghai led several major Asian bourses higher Monday as traders bet on fresh economy-boosting measures in China, while another record-breaking close on Wall Street also provided support.

The euro held up despite nervousness as Greece tries to hammer out a bailout reform deal with creditors that will unlock much-needed cash to service its debts.

Shanghai soared 3.04 percent, or 133.71 points, to 4,527.40 while Hong Kong closed up 1.33 percent, or 372.61 points, at 28,433.59.

Sydney rose 0.83 percent, or 49.4 points, to 5,982.7.

Tokyo was weighed down by a stronger yen, with the Nikkei closing 0.18 percent, or 36.72 points, lower at 19,983.32. Seoul finished down 0.10 percent, shedding 2.26 points to 2,157.54.

Shanghai and Hong Kong continued their upsurge as a recent run of weak data fuels expectations Beijing will add to its two interest rate cuts since November and two reductions in bank reserve requirements.

Hong Kong’s market has jumped about 15 percent this month as mainlanders rush into it after a year-long rally in Shanghai that has seen the benchmark index more than double.

Adding to confidence in mainland shares was a report that China is considering more than halving the number of state-owned firms through mergers and restructuring as part of a drive to boost the economy.

“Big oil names are soaring because of speculation that the government is studying mergers in the industry,” said Clement Cheng, a trader at RBC Investment Management Asia in Hong Kong.

“The oil sector has been undervalued for a long time.”

In New York the S&P 500 and Nasdaq pushed to new highs Friday. The Nasdaq added 0.71 percent after breaking a 15-year-old record on Thursday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.23 percent to a new record. The Dow gained 0.12 percent.

The gains came after official figures showed orders for US durable goods surged four percent in March, driven by a jump in orders for civilian and military aircraft as well as autos.

‘Zero for longer’

But with those elements stripped out, the report showed a 0.2 percent decline in orders, underscoring the weakness of US non-transport industries–partly due to the strong dollar.

“Friday’s US durable goods orders report was sufficiently weak to power US stock indices to new record highs, such was the ‘zero (interest rates) for longer’ interpretation of the data,” Ray Attrill, global co-head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank, wrote in a note Monday.

The dollar fell Friday to 118.99 yen in New York from 119.56 yen in Tokyo earlier in the day. On Monday it bought 118.23 yen.

The euro fetched $1.0865 and 129.50 yen against $1.0873 and 129.38 yen in US trade.

The single currency has maintained its relative strength despite uncertainty about Greece’s future in the eurozone as it struggles to find cash to pay its bills.

Greece has been trying to negotiate a deal that would unlock 7.2 billion euros in bailout funds needed to avoid default and a possible eurozone exit.

Athens said its leaders would resume talks with creditors Monday after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke by phone to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In a bid to speed up negotiations, Tsipras met Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers.

The group, which is in charge of the negotiations on Greece’s debt, will hold a teleconference with Athens Monday, and a second meeting in person on Wednesday in Brussels.

The developments come after EU ministers heaped pressure on Greece Friday to speed up negotiations, after a meeting in Riga last week ended without a breakthrough.

On oil markets US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for June delivery eased 21 cents to $56.94 while Brent crude for June fell 8 cents to $65.20.

Gold fetched $1,185.34 against $1,191.95 late Friday.

In other markets:

— Taipei added 0.60 percent, or 59.84 points, to 9,973.12.

Fubon Financial Holding jumped 4.08 percent to Tw$63.7 while Hon Hai Precision Industry was 0.11 percent higher at Tw$94.7.

— Manila added 0.14 percent, or 10.82 points, to 7,958.07.

Alliance Global was up 2.67 percent at 26.90 pesos but Universal Robina was down 0.64 percent at 218 pesos and Banco de Oro fell 1.87 percent to 115.30 pesos.

— Wellington was closed for a public holiday.

— Mumbai fell 0.95 percent, or 260.95 points, to end at 27,176.99 points.

Telecom major Bharti Airtel fell 3.11 percent to 386.85 rupees, while automobile maker Maruti gained 3.02 percent to 3,646.70 rupees.

— Jakarta fell 3.49 percent, or 189.91 points, to 5,245.45.

Tobacco company H.M. Sampoerna rose 1.35 percent to 75,000 rupiah, while palm oil producer Astra Agro Lestari fell 8.98 percent to 20,025 rupiah.

— Bangkok closed down 0.43 percent, or 6.63 points, at 1,548.83.

Siam Commercial Bank dropped 2.06 percent to 166 baht, while telecoms company Total Access Communication soared 6.75 percent to 87 baht.

— Kuala Lumpur slipped 3 points, or 0.16 percent, to  1,859.58.

Petronas Dagangan gained 1.36 percent to 22.30 ringgit, while Sapura Kencana ended 1.75 percent lower at 2.80 ringgit.

— Singapore ended up 0.08 percent, or 2.85 points, at 3,515.85.

United Overseas Bank rose 1.42 percent to Sg$25.05 while Singapore Telecom increased 1.60 percent to Sg$4.44.–Bloomberg News contributed to this report