Most Asian Stocks Advance as Consumer, Material Companies Rally

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Most Asian stocks rose, following a rebound in U.S. equities. Consumer and material shares led gains.

Four shares climbed for each that fell on the MSCI Asia Pacific Excluding Japan Index, which was little changed as of 8:04 a.m. in Hong Kong. Japanese markets are closed for a holiday. U.S. stocks rose after Fed Bank of Atlanta chief Dennis Lockhart joined Fed presidents from San Francisco, St Louis and Richmond on Monday, saying he remains confident policy will be tightened this year as concern over turmoil in global markets touted by Chair Janet Yellen last week should prove temporary.

With Fed Chair Janet Yellen slated to speak later this week, potentially providing more clarity as to whether to expect a rate increase this year, interest-rate futures indicate traders remain skeptical of a move in 2015. Odds of a hike at the next meeting in October are at 20 percent, according to fed funds futures, while the probability of an increase at the last meeting of the year, on Dec. 16, is 48.8 percent, down from 58.7 percent a week ago.

Source: Bloomberg