Accessibility links

Breaking News

Asian Markets Surge as Hopes Rise on Passage of Massive US Economic Stimulus Bill


People wearing protective masks watch an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm, Feb. 8, 2021, in Tokyo.
People wearing protective masks watch an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm, Feb. 8, 2021, in Tokyo.

Asian markets soared Monday as investors are increasingly optimistic about the chance of U.S. lawmakers approving a massive coronavirus recovery bill, and recent strong corporate earnings reports.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index finished 2.1% higher. The S&P/ASX index in Australia rose 0.5%. Shanghai’s Composite index gained just over one percent, and Taiwan’s TSEC index was up 0.6%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 0.2% in late afternoon trading, while Mumbai’s Sensex is 1.2% higher.

South Korea’s KOSPI index closed down 0.9%.

In commodities trading, gold is selling at $1,810.80 an ounce, down 0.1%. U.S. crude oil is selling at $57.51 per barrel, up 1.1%, and Brent crude oil is up 1.2%, selling at $60.07 per barrel.

All three major U.S. indices are trending higher in futures trading.

  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG