Investing.com - Asian stocks rose on Monday on lingering sentiments the U.S. Federal Reserve will consider rolling out monetary easing measures in wake of Friday's weak gross domestic product numbers.
During Asian trading on Monday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 1.19%, Australia's S&P/ASX200 was up 0.69%, while Japanese were closed on holiday.
In the U.S. on Friday, the Commerce Department reported the country's gross domestic product grew 2.2% in the first quarter, below market expectations for economic expansion of around 2.5%.
The numbers sparked talk the Federal Reserve would consider rolling out quantitative easing measures, under which the U.S. central bank buys bonds from financial institutions, flooding the economy with liquidity to encourage more investment and hiring.
Quantitative easing, an extraordinary monetary policy tool used when rate cuts alone don't work, tends to pump up stock markets as a side effect in both the United States and elsewhere.
Stocks got a further boost on anticipation that corporate earnings will continue to surprise on the upside, especially in the U.S., where first-quarter results have consistently exceeded expectations.
More results are due out this week and markets are growing increasingly optimistic that healthy earnings will signal a healthy April jobs report due out Friday in the U.S.
In Hong Kong, the top gainers included Bankcomm, up 2.59%, New World Development, up 2.55%, and Hengan International, up 2.36%.
Top Australian gainers included Emeco Holdings, up 5.00%, Spotless Group, up 4.47%, and Intrepid Mines Limited, up 4.29%.
European stock futures indicated a mixed to higher opening.
France's CAC 40 futures pointed to a gain of 0.28%, while Germany's DAX 30 futures signaled a gain of 0.20%. Meanwhile, in the U.K., the FTSE 100 futures indicated a loss of 0.01%.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.13% while the S&P 500 futures were up 0.14%.
Later Monday, markets will track U.S. data on personal consumption followed by a report on business activity in Chicago.
In Europe, Spanish gross domestic product and German retail sales will move equities markets as well.
During Asian trading on Monday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 1.19%, Australia's S&P/ASX200 was up 0.69%, while Japanese were closed on holiday.
In the U.S. on Friday, the Commerce Department reported the country's gross domestic product grew 2.2% in the first quarter, below market expectations for economic expansion of around 2.5%.
The numbers sparked talk the Federal Reserve would consider rolling out quantitative easing measures, under which the U.S. central bank buys bonds from financial institutions, flooding the economy with liquidity to encourage more investment and hiring.
Quantitative easing, an extraordinary monetary policy tool used when rate cuts alone don't work, tends to pump up stock markets as a side effect in both the United States and elsewhere.
Stocks got a further boost on anticipation that corporate earnings will continue to surprise on the upside, especially in the U.S., where first-quarter results have consistently exceeded expectations.
More results are due out this week and markets are growing increasingly optimistic that healthy earnings will signal a healthy April jobs report due out Friday in the U.S.
In Hong Kong, the top gainers included Bankcomm, up 2.59%, New World Development, up 2.55%, and Hengan International, up 2.36%.
Top Australian gainers included Emeco Holdings, up 5.00%, Spotless Group, up 4.47%, and Intrepid Mines Limited, up 4.29%.
European stock futures indicated a mixed to higher opening.
France's CAC 40 futures pointed to a gain of 0.28%, while Germany's DAX 30 futures signaled a gain of 0.20%. Meanwhile, in the U.K., the FTSE 100 futures indicated a loss of 0.01%.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.13% while the S&P 500 futures were up 0.14%.
Later Monday, markets will track U.S. data on personal consumption followed by a report on business activity in Chicago.
In Europe, Spanish gross domestic product and German retail sales will move equities markets as well.