Asian markets rise but Japanese confidence hits 14-month low
Asian markets have so far made modest gains after Wall Street kept its cool in the wake of a poorer-than-expected jobs report. However, investors remained cautious owing to significant event risk in the near future.
Confidence amongst Japanese households also fell for a second successive month in January, according to figures released by the Cabinet Office on Monday.
The consumer confidence index fell to 40.5 in the beginning of 2014 – its lowest level since 2012.
Meanwhile Chinese equity indexes received a boost from expectations of strong sales due to the Lunar New Year.
Japan's Nikkei is up 1.4 per cent while the CSI 300 Index in Shanghai has jumped 2.25 per cent.
After hovering between a 0.2 per cent gain and a 0.4 per cent loss, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is up 0.08 per cent.