Asian stocks mixed after Wall St rally ahead of US debate

Asian stocks were mixed Tuesday after Wall Street recovered some of this month's losses as investors looked ahead to a debate between President Donald Trump and his challenger in the November election, Joe Biden.

Shanghai, Seoul and Tokyo advanced Hong Kong and Sydney declined. Overnight, Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index gained 1.6%, led by big tech stocks.

"This is welcome cheer, but does not redeem equities from a negative September,” said Mizuho Bank in a report. With no obvious catalyst, its analysts questioned whether the rise was driven by little more than "month-end short-covering,” or traders buying stocks to fulfill commitments to re-sell them.

The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3% to 3,231.89 while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong retreated 0.5% to 23,348.01.

The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo edged 0.1% higher to 23,539.10. The Kospi in Seoul advanced 0.8% to 2,326.41 and Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 was off 0.2% at 5,941.20.

India's Sensex opened down 0.3% at 37,885.55. New Zealand and Bangkok declined while Singapore and Jakarta gained. 

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Shares in Japanese telecoms giant NTT Corp. fell 2.7% after reports said it plans to take over its mobile phone carrier NTT DoCoMo and take it private. DoCoMo said it would announce news after a board meeting Tuesday. 

Tech stocks led an earlier rebound in global share prices, but investors began to worry they were overpriced, leading to a new sell-off.

Investors confidence has been supported by infusions of central bank credit into struggling economies and hopes for development of a coronavirus vaccine.

However, the US Congress still is arguing over the size of a new support package after additional unemployment benefits that helped to support consumer spending that powers the biggest global economy expired.

Investors were awaiting Tuesday's 90-minute televised Trump-Biden debate. It comes amid trade tension with China and rising coronavirus deaths. Tens of millions of Americans are out of work.

Markets are watching the potential impact of the November election on tax policy and how long it might take to determine the winner.

The debate outcome is "not necessarily all that market relevant,” said Robert Carnell of ING in a report.

Associated Press