Asian stocks largely higher after Wall St record

Hong Kong - Shanghai led several Asian stock markets higher Monday as traders bet on fresh economy-boosting measures in China, while another record-breaking close on Wall Street also supported regional markets.

The euro held up despite nervousness as Greece tries to hammer out a bailout reform deal with creditors that will unlock much-needed cash to service its debts.

Shanghai soared 3.04%, or 133.71 points, to 4 527.40 while Hong Kong closed up 1.33%, or 372.61 points, at 28 433.59.

Sydney rose 0.83%, or 49.4 points, to 5 982.7.

Tokyo was weighed down by a stronger yen, with the Nikkei closing 0.18%, or 36.72 points, lower at 19 983.32. Seoul finished 0.10% down, shedding 2.26 points to 2 157.54.

Shanghai and Hong Kong continued their upsurge as a recent run of weak data fuels expectations Beijing will add to its two interest rate cuts since November and two reductions in bank reserve requirements.

Hong Kong's market has jumped about 15% this month as mainlanders rush into it after a year-long rally in Shanghai that has seen the benchmark index more than double.

Adding to confidence in mainland shares was a report that China is considering more than halving the number of state-owned firms through mergers and restructuring as part of a drive to boost the economy.

"Big oil names are soaring because of speculation that the government is studying mergers in the industry," said Clement Cheng, a trader at RBC Investment Management Asia in Hong Kong.

"The oil sector has been undervalued for a long time."

In New York the S&P 500 and Nasdaq pushed to new highs Friday. The Nasdaq added 0.71% after breaking a 15-year-old record on Thursday, while the S&P 500 rose 0.23% to a new record. The Dow gained 0.12%.

The gains came after official figures showed orders for US durable goods surged four percent in March, driven by a jump in orders for civilian and military aircraft as well as autos.

'Zero for longer'

But with those elements stripped out, the report showed an 0.2% decline in orders, underscoring the weakness of US non-transport industries - partly due to the strong dollar.

"Friday's US durable goods orders report was sufficiently weak to power US stock indices to new record highs, such was the 'zero (interest rates) for longer' interpretation of the data," Ray Attrill, global co-head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank, wrote in a note Monday.

The dollar fell Friday to ¥118.99 in New York from ¥119.56 in Tokyo earlier in the day. On Monday it bought ¥118.23.

The euro fetched $1.0865 and 129.50 yen against $1.0873 and ¥129.38 in US trade.

The single currency has maintained its relative strength despite uncertainty about Greece's future in the eurozone as it struggles to find cash to pay its bills.

Greece has been trying to negotiate a deal that would unlock €7.2bn in bailout funds needed to avoid default and a possible eurozone exit.

Athens said its leaders would resume talks with creditors Monday after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke by phone to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In a bid to speed up negotiations, Tsipras met Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers.

The group, which is in charge of the negotiations on Greece's debt, will hold a teleconference with Athens Monday, and a second meeting in person on Wednesday in Brussels.

The developments come after EU ministers heaped pressure on Greece Friday to speed up negotiations, after a meting in Riga last week ended without a breakthrough.

On oil markets US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for June delivery eased 21 cent to $56.94 while Brent crude for June fell eight cents to $65.20.

Gold fetched $1 182.77 against $1 191.95 late Friday.

In other markets

Taipei added 0.60%, or 59.84 points, to 9 973.12.

Fubon Financial Holding jumped 4.08% to Tw$63.7 while Hon Hai Precision Industry was 0.11% higher at Tw$94.7.

Manila added 0.14%, or 10.82 points, to 7 958.07.

Alliance Global was up 2.67% at 26.90 pesos but Universal Robina was down 0.64% at 218 pesos and Banco de Oro fell 1.87% to 115.30 pesos.

Wellington was closed for a public holiday.