SYDNEY: Asian shares inched up to seven-month highs on Monday as investors cheered a rebound in US payrolls and hints of more stimulus in China, though there was some caution ahead of what is likely to be a tough US earnings season.
In a document published on the central government's website late on Sunday, Beijing said it would step up a policy of targeted cuts to banks' required reserve ratios to encourage financing for small and medium-sized businesses.
Chinese blue chips climbed 1.4 per cent to territory not visited since March last year. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan followed by gaining 0.4 per cent to its highest since August.
Japan's Nikkei also made its high of the year so far and was last up 0.1 per cent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were little moved.
Japan's Nikkei also made its high of the year so far and was last up 0.1 per cent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were little moved.
On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 closed higher for its seventh trading day in a row last week, the longest winning streak since October 2017.
However, a test looms as major US banks kick off what analysts expect to be the first quarter of contracting corporate earnings since 2016.
JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Co will get the ball rolling on Friday.
Minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting are due out on Wednesday.
"Markets will be looking at just how dovish the FOMC has become," wrote analysts at TD Securities in a note. "We put a very low but not zero chance on a rate cut discussion; conversely rate hikes are still on the horizon for the majority of Fed officials."
"The minutes are likely to show peak dovishness ..
In a document published on the central government's website late on Sunday, Beijing said it would step up a policy of targeted cuts to banks' required reserve ratios to encourage financing for small and medium-sized businesses.
Chinese blue chips climbed 1.4 per cent to territory not visited since March last year. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan followed by gaining 0.4 per cent to its highest since August.
Japan's Nikkei also made its high of the year so far and was last up 0.1 per cent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were little moved.
Japan's Nikkei also made its high of the year so far and was last up 0.1 per cent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were little moved.
On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 closed higher for its seventh trading day in a row last week, the longest winning streak since October 2017.
However, a test looms as major US banks kick off what analysts expect to be the first quarter of contracting corporate earnings since 2016.
JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Co will get the ball rolling on Friday.
Minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting are due out on Wednesday.
"Markets will be looking at just how dovish the FOMC has become," wrote analysts at TD Securities in a note. "We put a very low but not zero chance on a rate cut discussion; conversely rate hikes are still on the horizon for the majority of Fed officials."
"The minutes are likely to show peak dovishness ..
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