Markets get off to positive start

HONG KONG:

The new year got off to a broadly upbeat start on Monday in holiday-thinned trade as most markets rose, with some cheer provided by data suggesting regional economies improved last month. However, investors remain shackled by concerns about a range of issues including the fast-spreading Omicron variant, inflation, the removal of central bank stimulus and geopolitical tensions. While the last few months of 2021 were marked by uncertainty on trading floors, global stocks enjoyed blockbuster rallies across the year as economies reopened and lives in most countries returned to some semblance of normal, fuelling optimism that the recovery would stay on track. And data showing factory activity picked up last month across the region provided a little optimism to start the year.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2022.

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