Asian shares rise after record highs on Wall Street

By Andrew Galbraith

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Asian shares rose early on Monday, taking support from Wall Street's gains on Friday after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said a gradual approach to raising rates was best to protect the U.S. economy and job growth.

Powell's comments, which were in line with market expectations, helped to push the S&P500 index and Nasdaq Composite to record highs on Friday, cementing the S&P's longest-running bull market, as defined by some investors.

In early Asian trade on Monday, S&P500 E-mini futures touched a record high of 2,885, and were last 0.2 percent higher at 2,882.5.

"Powell's Jackson Hole speech essentially confirmed the need for further gradual rate hikes and stressed that higher interest rates have served the economy well. However, rate rises remain data-dependent, and other Fed officials reiterated that 'nothing is predetermined'," ANZ analysts said in a note on Monday.

"The Fed Chair's reiteration that rate rises would remain gradual gave the green light to ongoing falls in the USD and increases in equities on Friday."

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a Reuters interview last week that he was "not thrilled" with Powell's rate hike policy, seeking more help with the economy from the Fed instead.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.1 percent, while Japan's Nikkei stock index gained 0.6 percent.

Seoul's Kospi index was flat.

Australian shares were up 0.1 percent, following a week of political tumult that saw the Scott Morrison become the country's sixth prime minister in less than 10 years.

The dollar rose 0.05 percent against the yen to 111.28, while the euro was up 0.13 percent on the day at $1.1636.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was down 0.1 percent at 95.070.

U.S. crude dipped 0.23 percent at $68.56 a barrel, and Brent crude fell to $75.68 per barrel after oil prices rose last week, ending a streak of weekly declines on tightening supply, driven by the prospect of lower oil supply from Iran.

The United States has pulled out of a nuclear accord it signed with Iran in 2015 and has imposed sanctions on Iran's oil industry and exports.

Gold was slightly higher as the dollar weakened. Spot gold gained 0.1 percent to trade at $1206.66 per ounce.

(Reporting by Andrew Galbraith; Editing by Eric Meijer)