Asian
index futures climbed amid a rebound in U.S. stocks as data fueled
optimism over the American economy and after Federal Reserve meeting
minutes confirmed the outlook for interest rates. Australian bonds
retreated.
Futures
on gauges from Japan to Hong Kong advanced at least 0.3 percent as
consumer and health-care stocks drove the Standard & Poor™s 500
Index higher for the first time in six days. The greenback held gains,
trading near a nine-year high versus the euro after the Bloomberg Dollar
Spot Index gained to its strongest level since at least 2005. Yields on
10-year Australian bonds rose from a record low after similar maturity
Treasuries snapped a seven-day rally. West Texas Intermediate crude
climbed 1.5 percent to $48.65 a barrel, up from a 5 1/2-year low.
Most
Fed officials agreed their commitment to be œpatient on raising rates
meant there would be no increase in near-zero borrowing costs before
late April, according to minutes of the December meeting released
yesterday. Some policy makers expressed concern over below-target
inflation and the impact of slowing growth globally. Japan updates on
inflation expectations today, after data yesterday showed consumer
prices in the euro area fell in December for the first time since 2009.
Futures
on Japan™s Nikkei 225 Stock Average added 1.7 percent to 17,140 on the
Chicago Mercantile Exchange, while contracts traded in Osaka were up 1.1
percent to 17,140 by 3 a.m. local time.
Source: Bloomberg
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