Asian stocks rally as progress in US stimulus underpins optimism

Sydney — Asian shares rallied on Monday as some semblance of calm returned to bond markets after last week’s wild ride, while progress in the huge US stimulus package underpinned optimism about the global economy and sent oil prices higher.

China’s official manufacturing PMI out at the weekend missed forecasts, but Japanese figures showed the fastest growth in two years. Investors are also counting on upbeat news from a raft of US data due this week including the February payrolls report.

Helping sentiment was news deliveries of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine should start on Tuesday.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 1%, after shedding 3.7% last Friday.

Japan’s Nikkei rallied 2.1%, while Chinese blue chips added 0.8%.

Nasdaq futures bounced 1.2% and S&P 500 futures 0.8%. Euro Stoxx 50 futures and FTSE futures both rose 1.0%.

Yields on US 10-year notes held at 1.40%, from last week’s peak of 1.61%. They climbed 11 basis points last week to be up 50 basis points on the year so far.

“The bond moves on Friday still feel like a pause for air, rather than the catalyst for a move towards calmer waters,” said Rodrigo Catril, a senior strategist at NAB.

“Market participants remain nervous over the prospect of higher inflation as economies look to reopen aided by vaccine rollouts, high levels of savings along with solid fiscal and monetary support.”

Analysts at BofA noted the bond bear market is now one of the most severe on record with the annualised price return from 10-year US government bonds down 29% since last August, with Australia off 19%, the UK 16% and Canada 10%.

The rout owed much to expectations of faster US growth as the House passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9-trillion coronavirus relief package, sending it to the Senate.

BofA’s US economist Michelle Meyer lifted her forecast for economic growth to 6.5% for this year and 5% next, due to the likelihood of the larger stimulus package, better news on the virus front and encouraging data.

US virus cases were also down 72% since a January 12 peak and hospitalisations are following closely behind, BofA added.

Higher US yields combined with the general shift to safety helped the dollar index rebound to 90.787 from a seven-week low of 89.677.

On Monday, the euro was steady at $1.2083, compared with last week’s peak of $1.2242, while the dollar held near a six-month top on the yen at 106.60.

“Riskier” currencies and those exposed to commodities bounced a little after taking a beating late last week, with the Australian and Canadian dollars up and emerging market currencies from Brazil to Turkey looking steadier.

Non-yielding gold was still nursing losses after hitting an eight-month low on Friday en route to its worst month since November 2016. It was last at $1,750 an ounce, just above a trough around $1,716.

Oil prices extended their gains ahead of an Opec meeting this week where supply could be increased. Brent gained 4.8% last week and WTI 3.8%, while both were about 20% higher over February as a whole.

Brent was last up $1.11 at $65.53, while US crude rose $1.04 to $62.54 per barrel.

Reuters