Asia Morning Call-Global Markets

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

** indicates closing price

All prices as of 18:35 GMT

EQUITIES

GLOBAL - World stocks rallied and the dollar edged up from eight-month lows on Friday as slowing inflation data raised hopes the Federal Reserve can engineer an economic soft landing and reduce its pace of aggressive monetary tightening next week.

MSCI's gauge of stock performance in 47 countries EURONEXT:IACWI gained 0.31%, after the index earlier hit fresh five-month highs, while the dollar index DXY rose 0.187%.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

NEW YORK - Wall Street advanced on Friday, marking the end of an rocky week in which economic data and corporate earnings guidance hinted at softening demand but also economic resiliency ahead of next week's Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJI rose 0.08% to 33,978.08, the S&P 500 SPX gained 0.25% to 4,070.56 and the Nasdaq Composite IXIC added 0.95% to 11,621.71.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

LONDON - European shares ended higher on Friday as investors assessed mixed earnings from the region, while easing inflation in the United States bolstered sentiment ahead of a week of major central bank decisions.

The pan-European STOXX 600 SXXP climbed for the second straight day, adding 0.2%, and posted weekly gains.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average ended higher on Tuesday, rebounding from two straight session of heavy losses, as the yen's relentless rise paused on the eve of a crucial Bank of Japan (BOJ) policy decision.

The Nikkei NI225 rose 1.23% to close at 26,138.68, while the broader Topix TOPIX gained 0.88% to 1,902.89.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

SHANGHAI - China's stock exchange, bond, forex, commodity futures and financial futures markets will be closed for a week for the Lunar New Year holiday, which officially starts Jan. 21. The markets will resume trading on Monday, Jan. 30.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

AUSTRALIA - Australian shares hovered near a nine-month high on Friday, as financials and technology stocks tracked overnight gains in their Wall Street peers, while the benchmark index logged its fourth consecutive weekly climb.

The S&P/ASX 200 index XJO ended 0.34% higher at 7,493.8 points. The benchmark index was closed on Thursday due to a public holiday.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

SEOUL - South Korean shares rose for a fifth straight session on Friday and posted their highest close in more than five months, helped by foreign investor buying.

The benchmark KOSPI KOSPI gained 0.62% to 2,484.02 - its highest close since Aug. 19, 2022.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

NEW YORK - The dollar clung to modest gains against the euro on Friday after data showed falling U.S. consumer spending and cooling inflation, and as investors awaited a slew of central bank meetings next week.

Against the yen USDJPY, the dollar was 0.25% lower at 129.89 yen as hot Tokyo inflation readings spurred bets that a hawkish pivot from the Bank of Japan (BOJ) could be in the offing.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

SHANGHAI - China's stock exchange, bond, forex, commodity futures and financial futures markets will be closed for a week for the Lunar New Year holiday, which officially starts Jan. 21. The markets will resume trading on Monday, Jan. 30.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

AUSTRALIA - The Australian dollar held hefty weekly gains on Friday as markets priced in higher interest rates at home, while optimism over China's reopening whetted risk appetites globally.

The Aussie stood at $0.7125 AUDUSD, having gained 2.2% on the week so far to reach highs not seen since June at $0.7142. The next bull target is $0.7282, with support at $0.7063.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

SEOUL - The won ended onshore trade USDKRW 0.05% lower at 1,231.3 per dollar. It ended the week 0.34% higher, posting the third straight weekly gain.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

TREASURIES

NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Friday after inflation data in Japan surprised on the upside and following the release of the Federal Reserve's favored inflation measure, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, which was in line with expectations.

Benchmark 10-year yields US10Y were up about three basis points at 3.518%. They went as high as 3.565% in intraday trading, their highest in over a week. Two-year yields (US2YT=RR) rose to 4.207%.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

LONDON - European government bond yields edged higher on Friday as traders looked ahead to the European Central Bank's interest rate decision next week.

Germany's 10-year bond yield (DE10YT=RR), the benchmark for the bloc, was up 2 basis points (bps) at 2.24%, having earlier reached a two-week peak of 2.283%.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

TOKYO - Japan's government bond (JGB) yields rose to their highest levels in more than a week on Friday, as investors braced for an auction for 10-year bonds and as Tokyo's consumer inflation hit a four-decade high.

The 10-year JGB yield (JP10YTN=JBTC) rose to 0.475%, its highest since the Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept a trading band for the benchmark yield unchanged at the policy meeting on Jan. 18.

For a full report, click on

COMMODITIES

GOLD

Gold steadied on Friday with gains capped by a stronger dollar, but the metal was still set for a sixth straight weekly rise ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision next week.

Spot gold GOLD edged up 0.1% to $1,931.61 per ounce by 2:27 p.m. ET (1927 GMT), yet gave up gains earlier in the session after data showed U.S. consumer spending fell in December, even as the core personal consumer expenditure index gained 0.3% month-on-month.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

IRON ORE

Iron ore futures rose on Friday as continued optimism about an economic recovery in top steel producer China lifted demand sentiment, although they still posted weekly losses due to a slump in prices early in the week.

The most-traded May iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange TIO1! ended day-time trade 1.8% higher at 865.0 yuan ($127.51) a tonne.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

BASE METALS

Copper prices slumped on Friday, pressured by a firmer dollar and uncertainty about how soon Chinese metals demand will rise after the country dismantled strict COVID-19 controls.

Three-month copper HG1! on the London Metal Exchange (LME) eased 0.8% to $9,258 a tonne by 1700 GMT. U.S. Comex copper futures (HGcv1) dropped 1.3% to $4.21 a lb.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

OIL

Oil prices settled lower on Friday, making their weekly finish flat to lower, as indications of strong Russian oil supply offset better-than-expected U.S. economic growth data, strong middle distillate refining margins and hopes of a rapid recovery in Chinese demand.

Brent BRN1! futures settled down 0.9% at $86.66 per barrel, up just 3 cents from last week's settlement. U.S. crude CLc1 fell 1.6 % to settle at $79.68, 2% lower on the week.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

PALM OIL

Malaysian palm oil futures rose for a second straight session on Friday on bargain hunting amid a recovery in rival oils, ending the week with modest gains.

The benchmark palm oil contract FCPO1! for April delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange jumped 3.41% to close the day at 3,910 ringgit ($921.95) per tonne, adding to Thursday's 0.75% gain.

For a full report, click on

- - - -

RUBBER

Japanese rubber futures posted their fourth straight weekly gain, as prospects of an economic recovery in top buyer China boosted demand sentiment, despite a slight dip in the contract on Friday.

Osaka Exchange's rubber contract for July delivery TRB1!, TRB1! finished down 0.5 yen, or 0.2%, at 235.5 yen ($1.81) per kg. Earlier in the session, the contract hit 238.3 yen, its highest level since Oct. 11.

For a full report, click on

- - - -