Sharjah 24 – AFP: Asian markets mostly rose Wednesday following two days of selling, while investors appeared initially unfussed after Donald Trump called a new stimulus package "a disgrace" and told US lawmakers to amend it.
Equities and oil prices have taken a hit recently as virus cases surged across the planet and a new more transmissible strain was reported in the UK, forcing governments to impose tight restrictions and lockdowns to contain the disease over the festive period.
The worrying spike in infections has overshadowed the rollout of vaccines and news at the start of the week that Congress had finally hammered out an economic rescue package worth around $900 billion.
However, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Taipei and Jakarta were all in positive territory after recent losses, while Wellington extended gains. Singapore and Manila fell.
New York stock futures dropped, though, after Trump's outburst against this week's stimulus agreement.
The outgoing president slammed the package as not having enough for American families and told Congress to rethink it, raising the possibility of it being held up until after Christmas.
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