Global shares surge led by records in Japan and South Korea as markets regain momentum

Tokyo, Feb 3 (AP) Global shares surged on Tuesday, led by a nearly 7 per cent jump in South Korea's benchmark and a 3.9 per cent rally in Tokyo that took the Nikkei 225 to a record as investors bought tech-related shares.
     France's CAC 40 gained 0.6 per cent in early trading to 8,232.71, while the German DAX surged 1.0 per cent to 25,053.90. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.2 per cent to 10,361.21.
     The future for the S&P 500 was up 0.3 per cent while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1 per cent.
     Markets are awaiting earnings reports from major companies to gauge the impact of various trends, including US President Donald Trump's tariffs and possible curbs on rare earths exports from China.
     Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 climbed 3.9 per cent to finish at 54,720.66, its highest close ever. Shares in equipment maker Disco Corp. jumped 7.4 per cent while those in testing equipment maker Advantest gained 7.1 per cent.
     Share prices have been boosted by expectations that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party will regain a significant majority in the parliament in a Feb. 8 election, ushering in more market-friendly policies. Some analysts warn that the Japanese yen may weaken further if Takaichi boosts government spending, presenting hardships for consumers and some companies.
     In South Korea, the Kospi gained 6.8 per cent to 5,288.08, also a record. Investors appeared to regain confidence after the latest scare over a possible bubble in artificial intelligence as shares in Samsung Electronics Co. soared 11.4 per cent while those in chip maker SK Hynix rocketed up 9.3 per cent.
     Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.2 per cent to 26,834.77, while the Shanghai Composite added 1.3 per cent to 4,067.74.
     Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.9 per cent to 8,857.10. Australia's central bank raised its benchmark policy rate for the first time in two years, citing higher inflation than anticipated before it last cut rates.
     On Monday, the S&P 500 added 0.5 per cent, snapping a three-day losing streak. The Dow industrials rose 1.1 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6 per cent.
     Gold gained 6.7 per cent on Tuesday, while silver's price rebounded nearly 14 per cent.
     Gold and silver prices have surged as investors search for safer things to own at a time of uncertainty over the status of the Federal Reserve, which may be set to become less independent, a US stock market that critics say is expensive, threats of tariffs and heavy debt loads for governments worldwide.
     Their prices cratered on Friday, including a 31.4 per cent plunge for silver. Some on Wall Street saw it as a result of President Donald Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Fed.
     The Fed's chair has a big influence on the economy and markets worldwide by helping to dictate where the US central bank moves interest rates. That affects prices for all kinds of investments, as the Fed tries to keep the US job market humming without letting inflation get out of control.
     In other dealings early Tuesday, benchmark US crude fell 4 cents to USD 62.10 a barrel. Brent crude shed 13 cents to USD 66.17 a barrel.
     The US dollar declined to 155.52 Japanese yen from 155.61 yen. The euro cost USD 1.1819, up from USD 1.1791. (AP) SKS
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)