China bounce leads Asian stocks higher; investors await ECB
Source: AP-Excite
By KELVIN CHAN
HONG KONG (AP) — A big rebound in Chinese shares helped lead most Asian stock markets higher on Wednesday while European and U.S. markets were more restrained ahead of a European Central Bank meeting that investors were hoping would result in another big wave of stimulus.
KEEPING SCORE: European stocks were mixed in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.6 percent to 6,660.20 while France's CAC 40 was down 0.1 percent to 4,440.05. Germany's DAX dipped 0.3 percent to 10,224.55. U.S. stocks were set to open lower, with Dow futures slipping 0.3 percent to 17,413. Broader S&P 500 futures fell 0.1 percent to 2,014.00.
MORE STIMULUS: Many in the markets are betting that the European Central Bank will throw the continent's stricken economy another lifeline on Thursday. It's widely expected that the ECB will announce another massive round of government bond buying using newly printed money — a stimulus program known as quantitative easing.
ANALYST VIEW: "International stock markets have been supported by the expectation that the ECB will announce quantitative easing at its meeting this week," Ric Spooner, chief analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, said in a commentary. "However, there is significant uncertainty about the nature and detail of any program that is announced."
FULL story at link.
People walk past an electronic stock indicator of a securities firm in Tokyo Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. Most Asian stock markets rose Wednesday as investors anticipated European policymakers would soon unleash more stimulus while Chinese shares extended their rebound following a steep plunge at the start of the week. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150121/financial_markets-e0878fbc54.html
