Asian shares inched up Monday on hopes that the Federal Reserve would re-evaluate its hawkish stance at a meeting later this week, following signs of slower global growth.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index added 0.8 per cent to 21,536.85 and the Kospi in South Korea gained 0.3 per cent to 2,074.51. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.3 per cent at 26,178.87.
The Shanghai Composite index rose 0.1 per cent to 2,597.22. Australia’s S&P ASX 200 was 0.6 per cent higher at 5,635.50. Shares were higher in Taiwan and Singapore but fell in Indonesia, reports AP.
The S&P 500 index gave up 1.9 per cent to 2,599.95, its lowest close since April 2. The Dow slipped 2 per cent to 24,100.51 and the Nasdaq composite was 2.3 per cent lower at 6,910.66.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks fell 1.5 per cent to 1,410.81.
Benchmark US crude added 12 cents to $51.32 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped $1.38 to settle at $51.20 in New York on Friday.
Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained 7 cents to $60.35 a barrel.
The dollar strengthened to 113.46 yen from 113.38 yen in late trading Friday. The euro rose to $1.1312 from $1.1306.
