(Bloomberg) — Asian stocks rose, spurred by the shares of commodity-related firms as the price of copper and gold both climbed to record highs. Optimism over eventual Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts supported the rally.
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The MSCI gauge of regional shares advanced for a seventh day, with the materials sector posting the biggest percentage increase. Equity indexes for Japan, China, Hong Kong and Australia all marched higher, and futures for European and the US also pointed to gains.
Investors finessing bets on the Fed finally pivoting toward rate cuts has shaped trading across financial markets in recent days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average of blue chips closed above 40,000 for the first time on Friday, and optimism about US easing helped gold surge to an all-time high on Monday.
Investors are also keeping an eye on the Middle East after a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed in dense fog. Iran’s state television said there was no sign of life at the crash site. President Raisi was seen as a favorite to eventually succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the Islamic Republic’s top authority.
Bloomberg’s dollar index was lite changed, after dropping last week after data showed inflation in April eased more than economists expected. A chorus of Fed officials are due to speak this week, including Governor Christopher Waller who is set to talk specifically about the US economy and monetary policy.
“We continue to expect the Fed to cut rates by 50 basis points this year, with more reductions in 2025 and 2026,” said Solita Marcelli, chief investment officer Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management. “This creates a benign macro environment that is supportive of our investment recommendation for quality bonds and quality stocks.”
Japan’s benchmark 10-year bond yield climbed to the highest since 2013 amid expectations that the central bank is committed to normalizing interest rates and supporting the struggling yen.
China’s latest attempt to bolster the nation’s beleaguered property market, announced on Friday, was seen by some analysts as a step in the right direction, though possibly too small to end the crisis. Bloomberg’s gauge of real estate developer shares dropped on Monday.
Developments in the Middle East have the potential to spur haven demand, even though oil was little changed in Asia on Monday.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz will receive treatment for a lung condition, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency. King Salman has led the world’s largest oil exporter since 2015. His son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was set to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan’s government spokesman said the trip had been postponed due to concerns over the king’s health.
The week’s agenda includes economic activity readings in Europe as well as inflation prints in the UK, Canada and Japan. Policy decisions in New Zealand, Indonesia, South Korea and Chile are also due, while Nvidia Corp. is set to report earnings.
Some key events this week:
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China loan prime rates, Monday
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Thailand GDP, Monday
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BOE Deputy Governor Ben Broadbent speaks on monetary policy transmission, Monday
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Chile GDP, Monday
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Reserve Bank of Australia issues minutes of May policy meeting, Tuesday
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Canada CPI, Tuesday
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Fed Governor Christopher Waller speaks on the US economy and monetary policy, Tuesday
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BOE Governor Andrew Bailey delivers a lecture, Tuesday
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New Zealand rate decision, Wednesday
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Indonesia rate decision, Wednesday
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South Africa CPI, Wednesday
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UK CPI, Wednesday
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FOMC minutes from April 30-May 1 policy meeting, Wednesday
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Singapore CPI, GDP, Thursday
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South Korea rate decision, Thursday
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India S&P Global Manufacturing & Services PMI, Thursday
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Eurozone S&P Global Services PMI, S&P Global Manufacturing PMI, consumer confidence, Thursday
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US new home sales, initial jobless claims, Thursday
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Chile rate decision, Thursday
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Japan CPI, Friday
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Germany GDP, Friday
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Malaysia CPI, Friday
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US durable goods, University of Michigan consumer sentiment, Friday
Some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
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S&P 500 futures rose 0.1% as of 12:11 p.m. Tokyo time
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Nikkei 225 futures (OSE) rose 1.4%
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Japan’s Topix rose 1.2%
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Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.6%
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Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.4%
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The Shanghai Composite rose 0.3%
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Euro Stoxx 50 futures rose 0.4%
Currencies
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The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed
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The euro was little changed at $1.0874
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The Japanese yen fell 0.1% to 155.83 per dollar
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The offshore yuan was little changed at 7.2389 per dollar
Cryptocurrencies
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Bitcoin rose 0.8% to $66,690.04
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Ether rose 0.7% to $3,096.62
Bonds
Commodities
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West Texas Intermediate crude was little changed
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Spot gold rose 0.8% to $2,433.90 an ounce
This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.
–With assistance from Richard Henderson.
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