MARKETS: A brisk rise in Asian stock markets

Asian stock markets have seen a sharp rise overnight.

After eight in the morning, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was up 3.6 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 1.9 percent, and Taiwan’s Taiex was up 2.3 percent.

South Korea’s Kospi jumped a whopping 7.8 percent.

Tencentin the stock was up 1.6 percent and Alibaba 2.5 percent up. Alibaba offers $1.5 billion for Chinese food delivery company Bunny from buying and start bidding as part of a wider campaign aimed at taking over Meituanin market shares in online shopping.

The global stock market also saw an increase, with the MSCI All-Country World Equity index up 0.6 percent.

Oil prices fell overnight when the US president Donald Trump said the US was close to a deal with Iran. Brent oil fell by about two percent.

On the foreign exchange market, the dollar strengthened against most currencies, including the euro. The euro strengthened against the yen. With one euro, after eight, you got 1.1568 dollars, 185.41 yen, 0.86290 pounds or 10.936 Swedish kronor.

The Euro Stoxx 600 future predicts a 1.4 percent rise in the European stock market. In the United States, futures are also predicting a rise, albeit more moderate.