Australian agricultural chemicals firm Nufarm Ltd (ASX:NUF) says it has been notified by Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Company Ltd (TYO:4005) that its offer for 20 per cent of Nufarm is now unconditional. The tender offer for Nufarm shares from Sumitomo Chemical has received acceptances totalling 81.45 per cent of all Nufarm share.
Asian markets are expected to rise today as Wall Street rallied overnight on improved data of manufacturing employment in the US and a takeover of American International Group's Asian arm by British insurer Prudential. Resources shares in Asia were up on Monday as the massive earthquake in Chile raised concerns on copper supplies. Asian markets closed mostly higher yesterday. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.5 per cent, lifted by a rise in non-ferrous metal shares. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 2.2 per cent and China's Shanghai Composite added 1.2 per cent on expectations Beijing may retain an appropriately loose monetary policy at the upcoming meeting of the National People's Congress.
Asian markets mostly dropped on Wednesday. Resources shares across the region were hit by falling metals prices. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.5 per cent, South Korea's Kospi shed 1.0 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 0.8 per cent. The markets also weighed down by U.S. consumer confidence and German business sentiment. But China's Shanghai Composite rebounded 1.3 per cent as monetary tightening worries eased.
Most Asian markets rallied with resources shares significantly higher on Monday. Japan's Nikkei jumped 2.7 per cent while exporters were encouraged by stronger US dollar against yen. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 2.4 per cent. The Shanghai bourse reopened for the first day after the Lunar New Year holiday, Shanghai Composite dropped 0.5 per cent as the market was still impacted by the People's Bank of China's credit-tightening measures unveiled before the long holiday.
Asian shares are expected to remain rising after a rebound in most markets yesterday. On Tuesday China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.5%, Taiwan's Taiex surged 2% and South Korea's Kospi added 1.1%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1.2% spurred by Swiss banking major UBS's return to profit.
Asian markets received a bad lead from the US and European stocks while financial, commodity and materials sectors were all hit hard. Most Asian stock markets ended down Thursday ahead of the U.S. jobs report. Japan's Nikkei fell on the deepening fears over Toyota Motor's vehicle recall. China's Shanghai Composite slipped 0.3%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gave up 1.8%.
Wall Street rebounded on Tuesday to close at new 15-month highs. Health care sector rallied as investors bet that the outcome of a Senate race in Massachusetts might make it harder for President Barack Obama's health-insurance reforms.
