Asia markets build on gains as Brexit stimulus hopes grow

Hong Kong: Asian markets rose again Wednesday on hopes that authorities will unveil fresh stimulus to counter the effects of Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union. After Friday's battering, regional investors have this week led a return to global equities and higher-yielding currencies.

However, analysts warned there would likely be a period of volatility as Britain and its EU partners try to hammer out an exit agreement. Wednesday's gains built on the previous day's advance after South Korea unveiled a $17 billion plan to support its already fragile economy and news emerged that Japan was considering a similar move.

Before the Tokyo bourse opened, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Taro Aso and Bank of Japan chief Haruhiko Kuroda held talks on containing the Brexit crisis.

Japan's Nikkei ended 1.6 per cent higher and Shanghai gained 0.7 per cent by the close. Hong Kong was up 0.9 per cent in the afternoon and Sydney finished 0.8 per cent higher. Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Manila, and Jakarta each put on more than one per cent.

The advances followed sharp gains Tuesday in New York and Europe. In early European trade Wednesday London jumped 1.6 per cent and Paris and Frankfurt each added 1.2 per cent. And while the British pound edged down to $1.3335 from $1.3340, it has stabilised after plunging to Monday's 31-year-low of $1.3121.

In a sign that traders have calmed, higher-yielding and riskier currencies mostly rose -- Malaysia's ringgit gained 0.7 per cent and the South Korean won was one percent higher, while the Indonesian rupiah and Indian rupee also strengthened. Oil also built on the previous day's strong gains, with West Texas Intermediate gaining 0.9 per cent and Brent 0.7 per cent.

'Unnerving calm'

Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA Asia Pacific, said in a note: "The fiscal stimulus rumours saw risk appetite back on cue."

But he warned: "This relative calm is unnerving, given how fragile investor sentiment is, and the likelihood of renewed (pound) volatility. As a result, FX markets should remain a hot spot for the foreseeable future. Liquidity is gradually improving and appears to have weathered the initial Brexit sell-off."

Attention is now on how Britain negotiates its way out of the EU after four decades of partnership. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact Prime Minister David Cameron will stand down in the autumn, leaving his successor to hammer out the deal.

Meeting in Brussels, impatient EU leaders Tuesday called on Cameron to speed up the split and warned Britain cannot expect special treatment outside the bloc. Cameron said he wants the break to be "as constructive as possible" and seeks the "closest possible relationship" with Europe afterwards.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned he could not "cherry-pick" in the exit negotiations -- and there would be a price for Britain to pay.

James Woods, a strategist at Rivkin Securities in Sydney, sounded a note of caution, telling Bloomberg News:"While central banks assuring investors they're ready to support the markets helps sentiment, it may be too early to turn optimistic.

"We'll probably continue to see heavy volatility. We'll have to see what unfolds in the UK with the political situation."