Asian markets gain on hopes Biden will act on economy, virus

Asian markets gain on hopes Biden will act on economy, virus

SeattlePI.com

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TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration as U.S. president Wednesday, though worries about surging coronavirus cases sapped the Japanese market's early gains.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4% to finish at 28,523.26. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% to 6,770.40, while South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.6% to 3,112.03. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.7% to 29,835.04, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.1% to 3,570.40.

Hopes are growing that Biden’s planned stimulus for the American economy as well as measures to curb the pandemic will boost regional markets.

While many Asian nations have fared better in the pandemic than European countries and the U.S., worries still run high. Main urban areas in Japan, including Tokyo, are under a state of emergency, with evening dining discouraged. Critics say that's not enough, as deaths related to COVID-19 have been rising.

“Chinese New Year is less than a month away. With COVID infection numbers already on the rise again in parts of Asia, there are concerns about what the holiday season may mean for efforts to contain the virus’s spread,” said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at Axi.

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 30.66 points, or 0.8%, to 3,798.91, pulling to within 1% of its record high set earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 116.26 points, or 0.4%, to 30,930.52. The Nasdaq composite gained 198.68 points, or 1.5%, to 13,197.18.

About 60% of the companies in the S&P benchmark index rose. Technology, communication services and health care stocks accounted for much of the rally, though energy sector companies notched the biggest gain.

Traders continued to bid up shares in smaller companies, a sign of confidence in the prospects...

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