Hopes for Greek debt swap lift Asian shares

HONG KONG—Rising optimism that Greece’s debt swap will be successful boosted Asian shares Thursday while markets were also supported by another batch of strong US jobs data.

The upbeat sentiment supported the euro and dollar against the yen, while the Japanese unit was also pressured by news that the country suffered a record current account deficit in January.

Tokyo jumped 2.01 percent, or 192.90 points, to 9,768.96, Sydney advanced 0.66 percent, or 27.3 points, to 4,171.0 and Seoul added 0.94 percent, or 18.61 points, to 2,000.76.

Hong Kong gained 1.32 percent, or 272.95 points, to 20,900.73 and Shanghai rose 1.06 percent, or 25.49 points, to 2,420.28.

Wednesday’s fears over Greece were all but gone after it emerged that more than half its creditors had agreed to join in the deal, which will see them write off 107 billion euros ($141 billion) in debt.

The success of the plan is a crucial part of a 237-billion-euro second bail-out for Athens, which is aimed at preventing the country from defaulting on its obligations, a move that could spark another global downturn.

The upward momentum was supported by news that the US private sector added a net 216,000 jobs in February, following a somewhat upwardly revised 173,000 reading for January.

The data from payrolls firm ADP was the latest in a string of positive jobs figures in the United States that point to a gradual improvement in the world’s No. 1 economy.

It also lifted hopes for crucial non-farm payroll results that are due on Friday and which analysts will be keenly watching for an indication of the strength of the recovery.

In January the unemployment rate fell for the fifth straight month, to 8.3 percent, the lowest level since February 2009.

“If last night’s optimism on the (Greek swap deal) is confirmed and US non-farm payrolls follow the ADP data on (Friday), expect the momentum the market had at the beginning of the year to continue,” Miguel Audencial, sales trader at CMC Markets, said in a note.

“On the other hand, if it’s double bogey where both provide unsatisfying results, anticipate more fear to be displayed by the equity market,” he added, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

On currency markets the euro stood at $1.3192 and 107.56 yen, compared with $1.3148 and 106.67 late Wednesday in New York.

The yen retreated after Japan reported the deficit in its current account, the broadest measure of trade with the rest of the world, stood at 437.3 billion yen ($5.4 billion) in January, due to lower exports and higher energy costs.

It was the first deficit since January 2009 when Japan registered its previous record shortfall of 132.7 billion yen at the height of the global downturn.

The yen stood at 81.55 to the dollar during early European trade, slipping from 81.03 in New York.

On oil markets New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, rose 74 cents to $106.90 and Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April rose $1.04 to $125.15.

Gold was at $1,701.90 an ounce at 1010 GMT, compared with $1,681.40 late Wednesday.

In other markets:

— Singapore gained 1.96 percent, or 57.22 points, to 2,970.38.

Singtel added 1.30 percent to Sg$3.12 and oil rig maker Keppel Corp. was up 1.88 percent at Sg$10.84.

— Taipei finished 1.03 percent, or 81.48 points, higher at 7,984.56.

— Manila closed up 0.71 percent, adding 34.83 points to 4,956.19.

Aboitiz Power gained 1.08 percent to 32.85 pesos, Metro Pacific Investments grew 1.38 percent to 3.67 pesos and Philippine Long Distance Telephone dropped 0.29 percent to 2,752.00 pesos.

— Wellington ended 0.32 percent higher, adding 10.73 points to 3,413.79.

Air New Zealand rose 1.74 percent to NZ$0.88, Contact Energy added 1.63 percent to NZ$5.00 and Fletcher Building was down 0.45 percent at NZ$6.61.

— Jakarta advanced 0.64 percent, or 25.15 points, to 3,967.67.

— Kuala Lumpur rose 0.22 percent, or 3.53 points, to 1,578.36.

Sime Darby gained 0.4 percent to 9.84 ringgit, Malayan Banking added 0.1 percent to 8.72 ringgit and budget carrier AirAsia lost 0.3 percent to 3.66 ringgit.

— Bangkok rose 1.31 percent, or 15.15 points, to 1,168.31.

PTT gained 1.13 percent to 357 baht, while Banpu lost 0.63 percent to 634 baht.

— Mumbai was closed for a public holiday.