European stocks slip, Asian shares advance – GulfToday

European stocks slip, Asian shares advance – GulfToday

World Bank sees more countries in 'deep debt distress' this year

Asian shares

Asian shares record gains on Monday despite lockdowns in different parts of the world and signs of economic damage.

 

South Korea's Kospi jumped 2.5%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.7%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged up 0.2% to 27,945.18, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.4% to 3,584.97. 

 

In Japan, the markets were closed due to national holiday, also the Prime Minister declared a state of emergency for the Tokyo area as coronavirus cases surge. 

 

"A resurgence of COVID infections, with evidence of a more infectious, new strains taking hold in Asia, beyond the West, suggests that recovery and vaccine hopes also ride the back of the Tiger,“ said Venkateswaran Lavanya of Mizuho Bank in Singapore, referring to the peril of the situation.