Asian stocks mostly higher after Syria agreement

People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo on Sept. 9, 2013. Asian markets rallied on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, as fears of an attack on Syria receded after the United States and Russia agreed a deal for the Assad regime to give up its chemical weapons. AP PHOTO/KOJI SASAHARA

HONG KONG—Asian markets rallied on Monday as fears of an attack on Syria receded after the United States and Russia agreed a deal for the Assad regime to give up its chemical weapons.

Buying was also boosted and the dollar was lower after Larry Summers, the hawkish former treasury secretary tipped to be named Ben Bernanke’s successor as Fed chairman, withdrew from the race.

Trade remained cautious, however, before a two-day meeting at the US Federal Reserve at which policymakers are expected to begin winding down the bank’s stimulus program.

Hong Kong climbed 1.47 percent, or 337.13 points, to 23,252.41 while Sydney ended 0.54 percent higher, adding 28.4 points to 5,248.0. Seoul finished up 0.96 percent, or 19.05 points, at 2,013.37.

However Shanghai eased 0.22 percent, or 4.82 points, to 2,231.40 on profit-taking after last week’s healthy gains.

Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur were closed for public holidays.

Traders were given a strong cue from Wall Street Friday, where the Dow rose 0.49 percent, the S&P 500 put on 0.27 percent and the Nasdaq advanced 0.17 percent.

Damascus said at the weekend it would commit to a plan to eradicate its chemical weapons after a deal brokered by Russia and the United States that may avert a threatened attack by US forces.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov announced the deal Saturday that provides for Syria’s toxic arsenal to be destroyed by mid-2014.

Global markets were sent into a tailspin last month on expectations of a US-led strike that fueled fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Attention this week is on Washington and the Fed’s plans for its $85 billion a month bond-buying scheme. With most economists betting the bank will announce a reduction of its purchases, the key issue is how quickly and by how much it will “taper.”

Markets were taken somewhat by surprise after Summers decided to withdraw from the race to become the next Fed boss, citing fears of an “acrimonious” confirmation process.

The two other top contenders for the post—vice chair Janet Yellen and former vice chair Donald Kohn—were architects of the Fed’s bond-buying and supporters of the approach laid out by Bernanke. Summers was considered more hawkish toward the so-called quantitative easing scheme.

“Markets will take confidence from the view that a Yellen Fed is unlikely to put much pressure on economic growth rates by withdrawing monetary stimulus too soon,” Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, told Dow Jones Newswires.

In afternoon forex trade the dollar bought 98.72 yen compared with 99.39 yen Friday.

The euro was at $1.3359 compared with $1.3292 late Friday, while it sat at 131.96 yen, compared with 132.11.

On oil markets New York’s main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in October, eased 51 cents to $107.70. Brent North Sea crude for November declined 55 cents to $111.15.

Gold was $1,316.10 an ounce at 1030 GMT compared with $1,314.40 late Friday.

In other markets:

— Mumbai ended flat, up 0.05 percent, or 9.71 points, to 19,742.47 points.

India’s generic drug firm Ranbaxy fell 30.27 percent to 318.85 rupees after an import warning by the US drug regulator against one of its factories in northern India. Rival Wockhardt fell 9.85 percent to 592.15 rupees.

— Bangkok added 3.14 percent, or 44.03 points, to 1,445.11.

Telecoms company True Corporation jumped 14.48 percent to 8.30 baht, while Pruksa Real Estate gained 9.78 percent to 20.20 baht.

— Jakarta ended up 3.35 percent, or 146.70 points, at 4,522.24.

Auto maker Astra International jumped 11.29 percent to 6,900 rupiah, while palm oil firm Astra Agro Lestari fell 1.74 percent to 19,750 rupiah.

— Singapore closed up 1.90 percent, or 59.18 points, at 3,179.48.

Singapore Telecom gained 2.22 percent to Sg$3.69 and United Overseas Bank rose 1.54 percent at Sg$21.13.

— Taipei rose 1.39 percent, or 112.86 points, to 8,255.34.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. climbed 2.93 percent to Tw$105.5 while smartphone maker HTC fell 1.44 percent to Tw$137.0.

— Manila climbed 2.76 percent, or 169.47 points, to close at 6,302.71.

Ayala Corp. closed 2.51 percent higher at 572 pesos and its property arm Ayala Land rose 3.75 percent to 27.65 pesos.

— Wellington rose 0.92 percent, or 42.68 points, to 4,693.62.

Telecom was up 2.20 percent at NZ$2,31 and Fletcher Building advanced 2.12 percent to NZ$9.65.