SINGAPORE : Asian shares inched higher, while the dollar started the week on the front foot after U.S. jobs data pointed to a tight labour market, firming up expectations that the Federal Reserve will again raise interest rates at its meeting next month.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.12 per cent higher, while Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.5 per cent.
Australian, Hong Kong and European markets are closed for Easter.
E-mini futures for the S&P 500 eased 0.02 per cent, while the rate-sensitive Nasdaq was poised for a lower open with Nasdaq 100 e-minis down 0.25 per cent.
China shares slipped on Monday, with the blue chip CSI300 Index 0.32 per cent lower, while the Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.16 per cent amid rising geopolitical tensions around the Taiwan Strait.
China announced three days of drills on Saturday, after Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representative Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
China’s military carried out aerial and naval blockade drills around Taiwan on Monday, with a Chinese aircraft carrier joining in combat patrols as Taipei reported another surge of warplanes near the island.
Source: Reuters
