TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares extended their recovery on Tuesday, hitting a three-week high as U. S. borrowing costs eased ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's highly-anticipated first congressional testimony later in the day.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <. MIAPJ0000PUS> rose 0.3 percent, building on its bounce from a two-month low touched on Feb 9.
Japan's Nikkei <. N225> rose 1.0 percent to three-week highs.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 <. SPX> advanced 1.18 percent on Monday helped by fall in U. S. bond yields.
The 10-year U.
S. Treasuries yield eased to 2.864 percent, dropping further from its four-year peak of 2.957 percent touched on Feb 21, driven by month-end buying as well as position adjustments ahead of Powell's testimony.
Powell's debut appearance is seen as critical for financial markets at a time when many investors are nervous about the Fed's policy normalisation following years of stimulus after the financial crisis almost a decade ago.
Many expect the Fed to raise interest rates three to four times this year, as policy makers look to prevent an overheating of the economy especially as growth is set to get another boost from the Trump administration's tax cuts and spending plans.
Yet, investors are worried rising dollar funding costs could bode ill for potential borrowers, including U. S. home buyers and some emerging market companies.
MSCI's gauge of equity market performance in 47 countries <. MIWD00000PUS> gained 0.82 percent on Monday, rising above its Feb 16 high to hit it a three week top.
Still, it is down 2.4 percent so far this month, suggesting its record 15-month winning streak that began in November 2016 is at risk.
"The combination of low interest, low inflation and strong economic growth, the best combination for markets that also kept market volatilities low, is coming to an end," said Mutsumi Kagawa, chief global strategist at Rakuten Securities,
Continue Reading: Global Markets: Asian shares rise to three-week high ahead of Powell's testimony
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <. MIAPJ0000PUS> rose 0.3 percent, building on its bounce from a two-month low touched on Feb 9.
Japan's Nikkei <. N225> rose 1.0 percent to three-week highs.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 <. SPX> advanced 1.18 percent on Monday helped by fall in U. S. bond yields.
The 10-year U.
S. Treasuries yield eased to 2.864 percent, dropping further from its four-year peak of 2.957 percent touched on Feb 21, driven by month-end buying as well as position adjustments ahead of Powell's testimony.
Powell's debut appearance is seen as critical for financial markets at a time when many investors are nervous about the Fed's policy normalisation following years of stimulus after the financial crisis almost a decade ago.
Many expect the Fed to raise interest rates three to four times this year, as policy makers look to prevent an overheating of the economy especially as growth is set to get another boost from the Trump administration's tax cuts and spending plans.
Yet, investors are worried rising dollar funding costs could bode ill for potential borrowers, including U. S. home buyers and some emerging market companies.
MSCI's gauge of equity market performance in 47 countries <. MIWD00000PUS> gained 0.82 percent on Monday, rising above its Feb 16 high to hit it a three week top.
Still, it is down 2.4 percent so far this month, suggesting its record 15-month winning streak that began in November 2016 is at risk.
"The combination of low interest, low inflation and strong economic growth, the best combination for markets that also kept market volatilities low, is coming to an end," said Mutsumi Kagawa, chief global strategist at Rakuten Securities,
Continue Reading: Global Markets: Asian shares rise to three-week high ahead of Powell's testimony
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