Asian markets mixed after rally, but optimism remains

HONG KONG: Equities were mixed in Asian trade Tuesday following a recent rally, although optimism remains among investors as vaccinations are rolled out, infections fall and Joe Biden tries to push through his massive stimulus.

While there is growing concern that valuations may have gone too far for now -- having enjoyed a strong rally in recent months -- the general mood is one of optimism that the global economy will break out as life gradually returns to normal.

The US president's $1.9 trillion rescue bill is winding its way through Congress and, while Biden might not get the broad bipartisan deal he had hoped for, the Democrat majority in both houses is likely to be enough for them to pass a large package.

The giant spending splurge -- which includes $1,400 cash handouts -- comes as the US immunisation programme gathers pace and figures show new cases, deaths and hospitalisations are tumbling.

A similar picture is emerging in Britain, while Europe is also seeing improvements.

Adding to the positivity, statistics out of Israel -- which has led the world in vaccinations -- appear to show the jabs are working.

"Financial markets are forward-looking, and it looks like the US and Europe have Covid cases heading in the right direction," said OANDA's Edward Moya.

"Reflation bets are running wild and that could be enough to keep this stock market party going."

All three main indexes on Wall Street ended at new highs, and Asia extended the rally Tuesday.

Shanghai led gains, rallying two percent, while Tokyo rose to a new 30-year high. Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, Manila and Bangkok also were up, but Sydney, Singapore, Seoul, Jakarta and Wellington fell.

London and Frankfurt slipped at the open but Paris rose.

Axi strategist Stephen Innes said buying was "further buoyed by an upbeat set of earnings from the holiday season and vaccine optimism".

The inoculation drive, he said, "provides the ultimate recovery safety net that will allow people to participate on all those pre-Covid activities like the simple pleasures of going to a movie or having a meal out at the local eatery again".

Crude prices continued to climb on expectations for a surge in demand as economies reopen, with Brent holding around 13-month highs above $60.

"Oil's fundamentals are looking strong again on both (the) supply and demand side," said Moya.

"Despite demand being down about five million barrels year-over-year, optimism is high that vaccine rollouts will have key parts of the global economy return to normal."

Bitcoin pushed to a new record of $47,492.93 after getting a huge boost from news that Elon Musk's electric carmaker Tesla had invested $1.5 billion in the cryptocurrency and said it would soon accept it as payment.

Gold was also seeing increasing interest from dealers seeking the safe haven as a hedge against an expected jump in inflation with the world economy kicking back into gear and Biden's stimulus being rolled out.

The metal has risen around three percent since hitting a two-month low on Friday and was trading at $1,841 an ounce.

Key figures around 0820 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.4 percent at 29,505.93 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.5 percent at 29,476.19 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 2.0 percent at 3,603.49 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 6,514.78

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 104.82 yen from 105.22 yen at 2150 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3778 from $1.3741

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.2083 from $1.2049

Euro/pound: UP at 87.70 pence from 87.67 pence

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.8 percent at $61.07 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.7 percent at $58.36 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.8 percent at 31,385.76 (close)