Hong Kong - Asian stocks surge as US averts fiscal cliff

HONG KONG - Asian markets rose sharply on Wednesday after the US Congress backed a deal to avert a "fiscal cliff" of drastic tax rises and spending cuts in an upbeat start to the year for regional markets.

As the House of Representatives approved the Bill, which avoids tax hikes for most Americans and delays automatic spending cuts, investors piled into the embattled euro as the appetite for risk increased and oil prices surged.

Hong Kong stocks were the biggest gainers in Asia, adding 2.89 percent, or 655.06 points, to 23,311.98, receiving an additional boost from positive Chinese manufacturing data.

Sydney gained 1.23 percent, or 57 points, to 4,705.9, and Seoul put on 1.71 percent, or 34.05 points, advancing to 2,031.10.

Financial markets in Japan and mainland China were closed for a public holiday.

Asian shares had risen steadily on Wednesday morning in anticipation of a deal in Washington, and raced ahead in the hours after the pact was approved by US lawmakers.

Jason Hughes, head of premium client management for IG Markets Singapore, said the market reaction was "very positive".

"With the final hurdle being passed now, we've got a minimum deal that avoids any immediate threat of the US falling off the cliff... that's definitely boosted Asian equities markets," he said.

European markets also jumped at the open Wednesday in response to the fiscal cliff deal, with London up 1.28 percent, Frankfurt winning 1.01 percent and Paris rallying 1.73 percent.

The upbeat start for shares in 2013 will be a relief for investors after the uncertainty that clouded markets in the final months of last year as wrangling over the fiscal cliff dragged on.

The US deal passed the Senate early on Tuesday but its fate hang in the balance for hours as House conservatives sought to amend it to include big spending cuts, which would likely have killed it.

In the end, the House voted 257-167 to pass the original Bill after a bitterly contested session on New Year's Day.

The deal between the White House and Senate Republicans raises taxes on the rich and puts off automatic US$109 billion budget cuts for two months.

Had it splintered, all Americans would have been hit by tax increases and spending cuts would have kicked in across the government, in a combined US$500 billion shock that could have rocked the fragile recovery.

The House vote took place after a conservative rebellion fizzled when it became clear there were not sufficient votes in the restive Republican caucus to send an amended version of the Bill with spending cuts back to the Senate.

Republican party leaders ultimately feared they would carry the can if the deal collapsed.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was boosted by official data showing that Chinese manufacturing activity expanded in December for a third straight month, further evidence the world's number two economy was picking up after a slowdown.

The official purchasing managers' index stood at 50.6 in December, unchanged from the previous month. A reading above 50 indicates expansion while anything below points to contraction.

The data was released on Tuesday, but the Hong Kong market had been closed for a public holiday.

On currency markets in early European trade, the euro strengthened to US$1.3277 from US$1.3192 on Monday. The euro was at 115.73 yen, from 114.45 yen.

The dollar rose to 87.16 yen from 86.69 yen but weakened against most other Asia-Pacific currencies.

On oil markets, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February, added 84 cents to US$92.66 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for February delivery gained 66 cents to US$111.77.

Gold was at US$1,683.00 at 0830 GMT compared with US$1,658.90 late Friday.

In other markets:

-- Taipei was up 1.04 percent, or 79.72 points, at 7,779.22.

-- Manila advanced 0.83 percent, or 48.26 points, to 5,860.99.

-- Wellington was closed for a public holiday.

- AFP/ir

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