Asian stocks rally after Greek vote eases fears

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets climbed Monday after elections in Greece eased fears of global financial turmoil, but analysts warned that the economic crisis shaking the 17 nations in the euro common currency was far from over.

Stock markets rejoiced at the narrow victory by Greek conservatives who favor upholding an austerity program that their recession-mired country entered into in exchange for a financial bailout from international lenders.

The results relaxed fears that a country will stop using the euro currency and return to the drachma, unleashing a host of disruptive financial consequences in Europe and beyond.

Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 1.8 percent at 8,721.41. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.6 percent to 19,543.84. Australia's S&P/ASX200 added 1.5 percent to 4,118.20 and South Korea's Kospi rose 2.1 percent at 1,897.83.

On Wall Street, Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 57 points on Sunday night, suggesting the market could open higher Monday. The euro rose to $1.2679 from $1.2637 late Friday in New York. The dollar rose to 79.22 yen from 78.71 yen.

The New Zealand and Australian dollars were also higher. Both currencies typically rise when investors have more appetite for risk. The Australian dollar was trading above $1.01 and the New Zealand dollar was trading above 79 cents.

Masahiro Yamaguchi, a manager at Mizuho Securities Co. in Tokyo, said the perk in Tokyo stocks came from a sense of relief that the worst had been avoided in Greece.

"There's is a rebound simply because the risks are now reduced," he said. "There's a sense that, at least, things are OK for now. The solution is far from basic."

On Sunday, pro-bailout parties in Greece won enough seats to form a coalition government.

Greece has been dependent on rescue loans to operate since May 2010, after it was shut out of international markets following years of profligate spending and falsifying financial data.

The country is mired in a fifth year of recession, with unemployment spiraling above 22 percent and tens of thousands of businesses shutting down.

Greece had to agree to austerity measures to get its bailout. Measures included deep spending cuts on everything from health care to education and infrastructure as well as tax hikes and cuts in salaries and pensions. Anger at the measures has sent Greeks into the streets in frequent strikes and protests, some of them violent.

Some analysts said the election results could overstate the willingness of Greeks to embrace austerity.

"Overall, the Greek election result, while welcome, does not imply that the Greek people are embracing the tough reforms tied to the bailout package. It merely meant that fear overruled anger," analysts at DBS Bank Ltd in Singapore wrote in a market commentary.

Japanese vehicle makers soared on hopes that Europe, a huge export market, would avoid deepening economic turbulence. Mazda Motor Corp. jumped 5 percent and Yamaha Motor Co. gained 4.8 percent.

Steelmakers and shipyards also gained ground. South Korea's top shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries, rose 3.7 percent. Japan's JFE Holdings Inc. added 4.7 percent and Kobe Steel rose 4.4 percent.

But stock market operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. fell 2.9 percent as investors worried a $2.2 billion bid announced last week for the London Metal Exchange was too high.

Benchmark oil for July delivery was up 89 cents to $84.92 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 12 cents to end at $84.03 a barrel in New York on Friday.

Associated Press

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