SINGAPORE — Major markets across Asia-Pacific bounced back on Wednesday, following losses the day before that were triggered by renewed uncertainty on the omicron Covid variant.
South Korea’s Kospi led gains regionally, rising 2.17% after a tumble of more than 2% on Tuesday.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also saw robust gains, rising 1.4% after falling the day before. However, mainland Chinese stocks were mixed, with the Shanghai composite up 0.11% and the Shenzhen component shedding 0.267%.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 climbed 0.84%, attempting to recover following multiple sessions of losses. The Topix index advanced 0.74%.
Over in Southeast Asia, the Straits Times index in Singapore jumped 1.29%.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia bucked the trend, dipping 0.18%. Australia’s economy shrank 1.9% in the September quarter, official data showed Wednesday. That was above market forecasts for a 2.7% decline, according to Reuters.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 1.3%.
China’s factory activity data
A private survey released Wednesday showed Chinese factory activity shrinking in November, with the Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index coming in at 49.9 for that month. That was a decline from October’s reading of 50.6.
China’s official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for November came in at 50.1 on Tuesday, above expectations by analysts in a Reuters poll for a reading of 49.6.
PMI readings below 50 represent contraction while those above that level signify expansion. PMI readings are sequential and represent month-on-month expansion or contraction.
Shares stateside dropped overnight, with the S&P 500 falling 1.9% to 4,567, amid fears over the recently discovered omicron Covid variant. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also plunged 652.22 points to 34,483.72 while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 1.55% to 15,537.69.
Meanwhile, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank will discuss speeding up the bond-buying taper at its December meeting.
Oil jumps more than 2%
Oil prices were higher in the afternoon of Asia trading hours, after tumbling the day before. International benchmark Brent crude futures up 2.44% to $70.92 per barrel. U.S. crude futures rose 2.28% to $67.69 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 95.933 after a recent drop from above 96.5.
The Japanese yen traded at 113.46 per dollar after a recent weakening from below 113 against the greenback. The Australian dollar was at $0.7163, above an earlier low of $0.7117.