BANGKOK — Shares were higher in Asia on Monday after Wall Street capped a week of losses with a broad rally for stocks Friday.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index
HSI,
New Zealand shares
NZ50GR,
On Sunday, the New Zealand government announced it would extend until January a program to cut gas taxes and public transport costs.
“We recognize this is a tough time for New Zealanders and the rise in the cost of living is making it hard for many,” said Finance Minister Grant Robertson.
Benchmark indexes in Singapore
STI,
Markets in Japan were closed for a holiday. U.S. futures
YM00,
Solid earnings from big companies and an encouraging report on consumer sentiment helped lift shares on Friday, but Wall Street benchmarks still ended the week lower.
A July survey from the University of Michigan showed that inflation expectations held steady or improved, along with general consumer sentiment. That was welcome news after reports that showed consumer prices remained extremely hot in June, along with wholesale prices for businesses.
The report also bodes well for investors looking for signs that the Federal Reserve might eventually ease off its aggressive policy to fight inflation .
The S&P 500
SPX,
The Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
Inflation and its impact on businesses and consumers remain a key focus for Wall Street. The Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates in an effort to curtail rising inflation. The Fed has already raised rates three times this year.
In other trading, U.S. benchmark crude oil CLQ22 lost 81 cents to $96.78 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent crude BRNU22 , the standard for international trading, gave up 40 cents to $100.76 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar
USDJPY,