Japan's Nikkei 225 futures added 0.36 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures rose 0.68 per cent. — Reuters picNEW YORK, March 9 ― Asian stocks were set for a strong open today, helped mostly by global recovery prospects and the passage of a US$1.9 trillion stimulus bill, shaking off a mixed Wall Street session after a big downturn in tech shares.
Although futures markets suggested a higher open across Asia, Michael McCarthy, chief markets strategist at CMC Markets, said there was still a lot of uncertainty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.97 per cent, the S&P 500 lost 0.54 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.41 per cent. US treasury yields advanced as investors continued to price in higher inflation and more upbeat prospects for the US economy as it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.US economic data also pointed to a continued recovery, as the Commerce Department said wholesale inventories increased solidly in January despite a surge in sales, suggesting inventory investment could again contribute to growth in the first quarter.