## Asian Markets Rise as Investors Await Earnings Reports and Inflation Data
Asian shares mostly rose on Monday, April 8th, as investors looked ahead to earnings reports from major global companies and a key consumer prices report that will gauge U.S. inflation.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 1.3% in morning trading, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3%. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.3%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.8%. The Shanghai Composite remained relatively flat, up less than 0.1%.
Analysts attributed the gains to a rebound in risk sentiment after recent jitters. However, they cautioned that the lead-up to the U.S. consumer price index report this week could dampen further advances.
The U.S. government is scheduled to release its March report on consumer prices later this week. The data will be closely watched as an indicator of inflation trends and potential future actions by the Federal Reserve.
Wall Street ended last week with a rally after a surprisingly strong U.S. jobs report. The S&P 500 rose 1.1%, making up most of the loss from the previous day and moving closer to its record high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1.2%.
The strong job market has fueled consumer spending and earnings growth for businesses, contributing to overall economic growth. However, concerns remain about getting inflation below 3% and towards the Fed's target rate of 2%.
Analysts also noted that energy prices have been rising lately, putting pressure on economies like Japan that import almost all their oil. However, oil prices reversed course early Monday, with benchmark U.S. crude falling $1.27 to $85.64 a barrel.