Markets rally on huge economic support plans

Equities enjoyed some much-needed gains Friday after another volatile week on global markets as investors took solace in a blockbuster series of government and central bank measures aimed at cushioning the economic blow from the coronavirus.

The dollar eased somewhat after a lengthy rally fuelled by traders cashing out of their investments, while the embattled oil market extended Thursday's gains.

With the deadly pandemic showing no sign of ending, countries are going into lockdown, effectively shutting down the global economy and leaving experts in the dark as to how deep and long an expected recession will last.

On Thursday, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell presented a $1 trillion emergency relief package to combat the turmoil, with $1,200 cash handouts for individuals.

It also includes $208 billion in loans for companies hit by the crisis -- $58 billion of it for the battered airline sector -- and $300 billion in small business loans.

The plan is the latest in a series of measures put forward by Washington and comes on top of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and pledges worth hundreds of billions of dollars to provide liquidity to creaking financial markets.

It also comes in tandem with similar moves by governments and banks around the world, which have provided some support to investors, but which many observers warn could still be too little as the crisis rumbles on.

Hong Kong, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur all surged more than five percent, Seoul and Mumbai piled on more than seven percent, while Taipei rallied more than six percent.

Manila rose 3.4 percent, while Shanghai, Singapore and Jakarta put on more than one percent, with Wellington one percent higher and Sydney up 0.7 percent. Tokyo was closed for a holiday.

In early trade, London and Paris both climbed more than five percent while Frankfurt was up more than six percent.

"For now... the artillery barrage from the world's central banks and government treasuries seems to have stopped the rot sweeping the global economy," said OANDA's Jeffrey Halley.

The advances followed a positive lead from Wall Street and Europe.

But, while healthy, the advances come at the end of another tumultuous week for equities and there are warnings of further troubles down the line.

Many analysts expect markets to remain highly volatile and under pressure until health authorities get a better grasp of the scale of the outbreak in the United States and Europe and how long it will curtail activity.

"Despite the positive signs, credit markets continue to be under pressure," said Gorilla Trades strategist Ken Berman.

"High-yield bonds declined again, as the 10-year Treasury yield fell back to one percent, meaning that the 'flight-to-quality' continues. The immediate liquidity issues eased thanks to the central banks' steps, but credit markets will remain at the centre of attention, due to the systemic risks."
In company news, Air New Zealand ended down more than 35 percent, but well off the 45 percent drop suffered in the morning after the government said it would offer the struggling national carrier a NZ$900 million (US$515 million) loan to keep it running. The firm had been in a four-day trading halt before Friday's restart. - Key figures around 0820 GMT -