World markets recover on upbeat US economic data

KELVIN CHAN
People stand in front of an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Thursday, March 20, 2014. Asian stocks inched down Thursday after comments from the new head of the Federal Reserve suggested U.S. interest rates could rise sooner than financial markets were anticipating. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

HONG KONG (AP) — World stock markets bounced back Friday as upbeat U.S. economic data helped shake off worries about future increases in U.S. interest rates.

The Conference Board index of leading indicators, a measure of U.S. economic health, rose in February by the largest amount in three months, suggesting growth should bounce back following a harsh winter. Separately, U.S. applications for unemployment benefits rose to near pre-recession levels, suggesting a stable job market in the world's largest economy.

The numbers helped to perk up stocks after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen unsettled investors by suggesting earlier this week that U.S. interest rates could rise sooner than markets were anticipating.

In Europe, Germany's DAX rose 0.5 percent to close at 9,342.94 and France's CAC 40 rose 0.2 percent to 4,335.28. Britain's FTSE 100 ended 0.2 percent higher at 6,557.17.

Russia's MICEX stock market was the outlier, dropping 1.1 percent on concerns over the impact of U.S. and European sanctions. The penalties were expanded Thursday to include more individuals close to President Vladimir Putin as well as a Russian bank.

In the U.S., the Dow was up 0.6 percent at 16,428.96 and the broader S&P 500 was up 0.4 percent at 1,880.04.

Trading in Asia was subdued as Japanese markets were closed for a public holiday.

South Korea's Kospi rose 0.8 percent to close at 1,934.94 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.2 percent to finish at 21,436.70. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.8 percent to 5,338.10.

In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index advanced 2.7 percent to 2,047.62 as the yuan remained weak. China's currency was trading at 6.2245, the lowest in about 13 months.

A recent loosening of exchange rate controls has helped speed the currency's decline, which could give a boost to the export-reliant economy. Analysts believe authorities are trying to clamp down on frothy credit growth and discourage speculators as for the past several years the yuan has slowly appreciated in value.

But Rabobank's Every said the weakening yuan also shows that people are scrambling to get their money out of China and the outgoing tide could roil the Chinese financial system.

"It's like playing Jenga with the markets. They've only pulled out one block. Will the rest come down by themselves?" he said.

In currencies, the euro rose 0.1 percent to $1.3786 while the dollar dipped 0.1 percent to 102.31 Japanese yen.

Oil prices fell amid concerns that sanctions on Russia might eventually touch the energy market. Benchmark crude oil for May delivery was down 99 cents to $99.38 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 27 cents on Thursday.