Asian stocks rose for the fourth week in five after better-than-estimated earnings and economic reports bolstered optimism the global economy is recovering.
Li & Fung Ltd (利豐), the biggest supplier of clothes and toys to Wal-Mart Stores Inc, surged in Hong Kong after earnings beat analyst estimates. James Hardie Industries NV, the No. 1 seller of home siding in the US, jumped 15 percent in Sydney, after the Federal Reserve said the recession was easing and the nation’s unemployment rate dropped. Komatsu Ltd and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co, Asia’s two largest makers of earthmoving equipment, rose in Tokyo following ratings upgrades.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index rose 3.2 percent to 114.23 this week, with about five stocks advancing for every three that fell. The gauge has climbed 62 percent from its March 9 five-year low on speculation the worst of the global recession has passed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index both advanced for the fifth straight week.
“With earnings and economic data coming in better than expected, there’s an element of panic buying going on,” said Prasad Patkar, who helps manage the equivalent of US$1.2 billion at Platypus Asset Management in Sydney. “The market’s full of reluctant bulls praying for the market to pull back because they want to deploy cash at better levels.”
Economic reports worldwide have driven stocks higher since March, lifting the average valuation of companies on the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index to 25 times estimated profit as of Thursday, compared with 16.8 times for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index
In China, the Shanghai Composite Index sank 6.6 percent, its biggest weekly decline since February and the steepest drop among global benchmarks. Chinese shares entered a so-called correction on Aug. 12 amid concern a rally in equities had outpaced earnings prospects.
Li & Fung surged 19 percent to HK$27.80, the leading advance in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index. First-half profit growth of 13 percent beat analysts’ estimates, mainly on cost cuts.
Taiwanese share prices are expected to consolidate next week in the aftermath of the deadly Typhoon Morakot, while investors also wait for a cue from more US economic data, dealers said.
For the week to Friday, the weighted index rose 200.86 points, or 2.92 percent, to 7,069.51 after a 2.95 percent fall a week earlier.
Average daily turnover stood at NT$111.04 billion (US$3.47 billion), compared with last week’s NT$138.87 billion.
“The mood is cautious as the full impact of Typhoon Morakot begins to unfold. Investors are also waiting to see Wall Street’s performance after more economic data are due to be released next week,” Mars Hsu of Grand Cathay Securities Corp (大華證券) said.
“Trading volume would need to reach NT$150 billion to push the index above 7,200 points,” Hsu said, expecting the shares to consolidate in the 6,900-7,200 range in the week ahead.
“Reconstruction efforts [in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot] are a must and investors see a tangible benefit” to construction and cement stocks, Andrew Teng (鄧安瀾) of Taiwan International Securities Corp (金鼎證券) said.
Other markets on Friday:
SYDNEY: Up 0.57 percent. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 25.1 points to close at 4,461.0. Dealers said sentiment was boosted by good results this week including a 10.3 percent jump in profits from telecoms giant Telstra.
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