Asian markets rise as traders eye US inflation

HONG KONG, China — Asian markets rose Monday, tracking a bounce on Wall Street at the end of a painful week for investors, with eyes now on the upcoming release of key US inflation data.

Sentiment took a blow last week after Federal Reserve officials warned they wanted more evidence that prices were being brought under control, fuelling worries they might not cut interest rates this year.

That was compounded by figures suggesting the world's number one economy remained in rude health, despite borrowing costs being kept at two-decade highs.

But the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both benefited Friday from figures showing one-year expectations for prices edged down slightly, while consumer sentiment picked up.

The positivity followed through to Asia, which was also boosted by news that profits at China's industrial companies rose in April, having dropped the month before.

Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Singapore and Taipei all rose, though there were some losses in Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila and Wellington.

Paris opened lower on Monday and Frankfurt was flat. London was closed for a holiday.

"Markets continue to consolidate while global investors remain discerning on signs of US economic health and Fed's plausible monetary path," said Edward Ng, of Nikko Asset Management.

Focus is now turning to the release of the US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, which is the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation.

"Investors will look to US PCE print this Friday as a potential signpost for further market directions," Ng added.

The reading comes after the consumer price index edged down in April, having come in above forecasts for each of the previous three months.

Also coming up is the Fed's Beige Book on the state of the economy, which will be pored over for an idea about the bank's thinking on monetary policy.

Oil prices extended last week's gains of more than one percent ahead of a key June 2 meeting of OPEC and other major producers, with expectations high that they will maintain output cuts.

"Based on current market expectations that OPEC+ is likely to extend cuts, oil's risks are skewed to the upside," said Qisheng Futures analyst Gao Jian.

In company news, the stock price of the electric vehicle arm of China's struggling property giant Evergrande more than doubled after it emerged liquidators were in talks with potential buyers.

Evergrande New Energy Vehicle piled on 113 percent in Hong Kong, representing the biggest intra-day jump in nearly 10 years, according to Bloomberg News.

Key figures around 0715 GMT 

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 38,900.02 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.3 percent at 18,859.83

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 3,124.04 (close)

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 156.82 from 156.93 yen on Friday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0849 from $1.0851

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2742 from $1.2735

Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.15 from 85.17 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.4 percent at $78.01 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.4 percent at $82.14 per barrel

New York - Dow: FLAT at 0.0 percent at 39,069.59 points (close)

London - FTSE 100: Closed for a holiday