Asian shares rose today as hopes grew the global coronavirus outbreak is reaching its peak and oil prices grew on expectations of a production cut.
Asian Shares
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.65 per cent despite Japan’s Nikkei dropping 0.33 per cent overnight.
- The Nikkei sank as coronavirus infections rose in Japan, after the government declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and other cities.
- MSCI’s broadest range of Asian shares excluding Japan climbed 0.73 per cent as traders expected more government stimulus to combat coronavirus.
Oil Prices
- US. crude rose 4.58 per cent to $26.24 a barrel.
- Brent crude rose 2.5 per cent to $33.71 per barrel.
Currencies
- The euro nursed losses against the dollar and the pound after euro zone finance ministers failed on Wednesday to agree on more support for their coronavirus-hit economies.
