SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Asian shares ended mostly higher Thursday with some markets pepping up after a lackluster start as Chinese stocks posted their biggest percentage gain since March. The solid gains in Shanghai came amid speculation the government will act to support markets after a selloff last month.
However, stocks in Japan declined following an overnight fall on Wall Street and a strengthened yen.
China's Shanghai Composite, which lost nearly 22% of its value in August, jumped 4.8% to 2845.02, its strongest percentage rise since March 4. The Shenzhen Composite index climbed 5.5%. The advance came in the wake of media reports citing a China Securities Regulatory Commission official as saying the regulator will promote steady and healthy development of the markets.
Analysts at RBC Capital Markets cited market rumors that Class A-share initial public offerings will be suspended from mid-September to early October "to underpin shares and prevent oversupply," as another reason for the rally.
"As we approach China's National Day on Oct. 1, a lot of government officials are coming out and trying to calm the markets as a falling stock market doesn't help sentiment," said Steve Cheng, associate director at Shenyin Wanguo.
Mr. Cheng described comments by government officials aimed at supporting the market as merely "background music," and that investors would view data showing buying support from Chinese pension funds and insurance companies as "a more credible source of support."
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index ended up 1.2% after a modest start, while South Korea's Kospi ended flat, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.2%, and Taiwan's Taiex rose 0.9%.
Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% to 10,214.64, with exporters again pressured by the yen's recent strength against major currencies. Toyota Motor fell 1.8% and Canon gave up 1.4%.
U.S. stock futures were recently pointing toward a higher opening, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% Wednesday, weighed by a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report from Automatic Data Processing.
"The recent U.S. market moves indicate investors are feeling fatigued, showing only tepid reactions to positive data," said Choi Seong-lak at SK Securities in Seoul.
In afternoon trading, India's Sensex had gained 0.4% and Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.9%.
In China shares of several metals producers jumped 6% or more as base metals prices on the Shanghai Futures exchange settled higher. Aluminum Corp. of China rose 9.6%, while Jiangxi Copper and Yunnan Copper each surged by their daily limit of 10%.
On the SHFE the benchmark December copper contract settled 1.1% higher at CNY48,050 a metric ton. Copper's afternoon gains "clearly showed its close correlation with equity markets these days," said Wang Zhouyi, an analyst with Shanghai Cifco Futures.
Financial and real estate shares also galloped, with China Vanke rising 9.0% and Poly Real Estate Group jumping 8.2%, while Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. of China added 6.2%.
In Hong Kong, Ping An shares climbed 3.1%, Chalco added 4.4% and Jiangxi Copper jumped 5.9%, getting a lift from the surge in China.
Macau gambling stocks listed in Hong Kong were helped by a report in the South China Morning Post newspaper that Macau casino revenue surged in August. Galaxy Entertainment Group rose 7.7%, while Shun Tak Holdings rose 10.7%.
In Tokyo, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma rose 1.2% after the company said it agreed to buy U.S. pharmaceutical maker Sepracor in an all-cash deal worth up to $2.6 billion.
Korean stocks came off their earlier declines as a rise for the China market supported sentiment. Banking stocks extended gains, with KB Financial Group Inc. up 4.0% and Hana Financial soaring 9.1%.
Technology stocks rose in Taipei, with Chi Mei Optoelectronics rising 4.9% and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering rising by the day's limit of 7.0%.
"It seems the stabilization of China stocks helped the market, and tech shares remain in focus," said Fubon Securities' Michael Lin.
In Sydney, gold shares advanced with spot gold's rally on Wednesday. Newcrest Mining jumped 7.7% and Lihir Gold climbed 7.2%.
The euro and U.S. dollar were moving off earlier lows as gains for China shares supported them against the safe-haven yen. The euro was at 131.99 yen from 131.44 yen late New York on Wednesday, and $1.4294 from $1.4265. The U.S. dollar was at 92.31 yen from 92.13 yen.
Japan government bonds lead September futures fell 0.08 to 139.36 points, while the 10-year JGB yield was down 0.5 basis point at 1.300%.
Spot gold was at $977.20 per troy ounce, down $1.40 from New York's close after it rallied to a three-month high on Wednesday.
October Nymex crude oil futures were up 20 cents at $68.25 per barrel on Globex, after settling flat in New York.
Base metals on the London Metal Exchange were mostly higher in Asia after initially opening lower. The complex moved back into positive territory as solid Shanghai share markets boosted speculators' risk appetite.
LME three-month copper was up $92 at $6266 per metric ton. Three-month aluminum was $16.00 higher at $1861 per ton. Link...
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