TOKYO (REUTERS) - Stock markets rose on Monday (Oct 5) on hopes that US President Donald Mr Trump could be discharged from hospital later in the day, easing some of the political uncertainty that shook global bourses in the previous session.
Mr Trump, 74, was flown to hospital for treatment for the coronavirus on Friday, but his doctors say he has responded well and could return to the White House on Monday.
That helped US S&P 500 e-mini futures rise 0.8 per cent in Asian trading, while Nasdaq futures gained 1.11 per cent.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.6 per cent.
Australian stocks jumped 2.4 per cent for the biggest daily gain in almost two weeks. Japan's Nikkei rose 1.4 per cent. China's financial markets are closed for a public holiday.
Singapore's Straits Times Index was up 0.7 per cent as of 9:55am local time.
"Equities and other risk-on traders should be well supported by easing concerns about Mr Trump's health," said Junichi Ishikawa, senior currency strategist at IG Securities in Tokyo.
"For the dollar, the impact is not quite as clear cut. It should fall against most currencies due to an increase in risk appetite, but the yen is also weak, and that's the one currency the dollar can rise against."
The dollar edged higher against the yen but fell slightly against the Swiss franc as traders jockeyed for position ahead of what could be a volatile day in global markets.
Treasury yields rose slightly on reduced demand for the safety of holding government debt.
Doctors treating Mr Trump say they are pleased with his progress. Relief about his health could fuel a rally in equities and other risky assets as investors prepare for the run-up to next month's US presidential election.
Investors around the world were stunned late Thursday after Mr Trump announced that he and the first lady had tested positive for coronavirus.
With less than a month until the presidential election on Nov. 3, Mr Trump's contraction of the coronavirus is another source of market volatility that makes the outcome of the vote even more difficult to predict.
Democrat Joe Biden opened his widest lead in a month in the US presidential race, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Sunday.
The White House initially sent mixed messages about Mr Trump's health, helping fuel political uncertainty and putting the investor focus tightly on any news about his condition.
Some traders were particularly concerned by doctors' admission that Mr Trump had been given supplementary oxygen and steroids, which are normally used to treat severe cases of COVID-19.
The US dollar rose 0.22 per cent to 105.60 yen but fell 0.3 per cent to 0.9185 Swiss franc as some investors adjusted positions in safe-harbour currencies.
The Australian dollar rose 0.23 per cent to US$0.7181 after the Australian government, which hands down a federal budget on Tuesday, announced additional wage subsidies to help the labour market.
Yields on benchmark 10-year Treasuries rose to 0.7104 per cent and the yield curve steepened slightly in a sign that the majority of investors felt comfortable taking on more risk.
Gold, another asset often bought during times of uncertainty, was little changed at US$1,898.90
Brent crude futures rose 1.22 per cent to US$39.75 a barrel while US crude futures gained 1.46 per cent to US$37.59 per barrel.
