The U.S. futures, Asian stock gain

U.S. futures and Asian started to gain after equities hit fresh highs last week. The dollar traded near the lowest for two years, while the yen pared some of Friday’s rise as Japan is searching a new prime minister.

Shares in Japam outperformed, strengthened by Bekshire Hathaway Inc.’s (Multi Conglomerate Company) purchase of stakes in five leading trading businesses, one of billionaire Warren Buffet’s biggest investment in the nation.

South Korea slipped, while Hong Kong and China advanced. Treasuries fell, whereas both gold and crude oil rose.

The S&P 500 closed at a record high for a sixth consecutive trading session Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite also hit an all-time high. Chinese economic activity recovered in August as the world’s second-largest economy comes out from the virus slump.

A gauge of global equities in on course to increase for the fifth month, the longest such streak since 2018. Investors have taken comfort from the worldwide economy’s reemergence from the coronavirus crisis.

Covid-19 cases in the U.S. are rising again. India hit its record daily spike, and cases worldwide reached 25 million. It is evident that the pandemic is not over yet.

Since early 2018 in August, a gauge of China’s services industry was at the strongest level. Government-led investment has increased demand, and some reopening of overseas economies aided the export sector.

Stocks and currencies

S&P 500 futures increased by 0.5% as of 12:52 p.m. in Tokyo. S&P 500 Index boosted 0.7% Friday. Topix index gained 1.5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index climbed 0.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 1.4%. Shanghai Composite Index jumped 0.8%, while the Kospi index dipped 0.9%. Euro Stoxx 50 futures advanced 0.8%.

The yen traded 0.3% lower at 105.67 per dollar. The offshore yuan gained 0.1% to 6.8507 per dollar. The euro was at $1.1902. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index varied after falling 0.9% Friday.