- Hong Kong shares led gains across Asian equity markets on Wednesday, while US and European stock futures rose as risk appetite increased. The dollar fell against major currencies, while the yen rose.
- The Hang Seng index rose as much as 2% to levels not seen since July, aided by a more than 6% increase in Alibaba Group Holding shares following news that Ant Group, in which the e-commerce giant has a stake, received approval to raise $1.5bln for its consumer unit.
- Shares in mainland China rose slightly, while equity benchmarks in Australia and South Korea increased. After the S&P 500 fell in trading on Tuesday, European equity futures rose alongside it. Japanese equities fell about 1% against the trend.
- The yen rose slightly as the Bank of Japan attempted to lower government bond yields. The dollar fell against all G-10 currencies, led by the Australian dollar, in yet another sign of investor confidence in China's economy.
- The 10-year Australian yield fell as much as 11 basis points, while the 10-year US yield stabilised after its biggest drop in more than a month. Following the biggest drop in more than a month the previous session, the price of oil traded in and out of negative territory.
