Greek vote boosts Asia stocks but Europe muted

By PAMELA SAMPSONAP Business Writer
BANGKOK (AP) - Asian stocks rose Monday after elections in Greece eased fears of global financial turmoil, but the euphoria wore thin as European markets opened - a reminder that the crisis shaking the 17 nations that use the euro was far from over.
Global markets were reacting to the narrow victory by Greek conservatives who favor upholding an austerity program that their recession-mired country entered into in exchange for a financial bailout from international lenders.
The results relaxed fears that Greece will stop using the euro and return to its old currency, the drachma, unleashing a host of disruptive financial consequences in Europe and beyond. If a party that opposes the bailout had won the election, financial analysts worried that stock markets would fall worldwide.
European stocks were mixed in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.2 percent to 5,465.42 while Germany's DAX added 0.4 percent to 6,252.78. France's CAC-40 lost 0.1 percent to 2,317.02.
Futures augured a lower opening on Wall Street. Dow Jones industrial futures fell 0.4 percent to 12,657 and S&P 500 futures lost 0.4 percent to 1,331.80.
On Sunday, pro-bailout parties in Greece won enough seats to form a coalition government.
Asian stocks greeted the developments enthusiastically.
"Europe has survived its worst crisis in the 21st century. I see Europe rebounding for the rest of the year," said Francis Lun, managing director of Lyncean Holdings in Hong Kong. "That really brings a huge sigh of relief to the equity world: that no major change will happen to the euro zone."
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed up 1.9 percent to 8,721.02. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1 percent to 19,427.81. Australia's S&P/ASX200 added 2 percent to 4,136.90 and South Korea's Kospi climbed 1.8 percent at 1,891.71.
China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index added 0.4 percent to 2,316.05. The Shenzhen Composite Index gained 1.1 percent to 964.71.
The euro was slightly lower at $1.2634 from $1.2637 late Friday in New York. The dollar rose to 79.13 yen from 78.71 yen.
Greece has been dependent on rescue loans to operate since May 2010, after it was shut out of international markets following years of profligate spending and falsifying financial data.
The country is mired in a fifth year of recession, with unemployment spiraling above 22 percent and tens of thousands of businesses shutting down.
Greece had to agree to austerity measures to get its bailout. Measures included deep spending cuts on everything from health care to education and infrastructure as well as tax hikes and cuts in salaries and pensions. Anger at the measures has sent Greeks into the streets in frequent strikes and protests, some of them violent.
Some analysts said the election results could overstate the willingness of Greeks to embrace austerity.
"Overall, the Greek election result, while welcome, does not imply that the Greek people are embracing the tough reforms tied to the bailout package. It merely meant that fear overruled anger," analysts at DBS Bank Ltd. in Singapore wrote in a market commentary.
No one is sure how bad a Greek exit from the euro would have been. Greece would almost have certainly defaulted on its debt, triggering losses for European banks that own its government bonds. The outcome of the election, however tenuous, gives Greece a chance to breathe life into its moribund economy.
"It will be tough, but Greece will survive because I think the tourist industry and the agriculture sector will help it recover from its dire straits right now," said Lun.
Japanese vehicle makers and electronics companies soared on hopes that Europe, a huge export market, would avoid deepening economic turbulence. Mazda Motor Corp. jumped 6 percent and Yamaha Motor Co. gained 4.1 percent. Sony Corp. jumped 4.2 percent.
Steelmakers and shipyards also gained ground. South Korea's top shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries, rose 2.8 percent. Kobe Steel jumped 4.4 percent.
In Hong Kong, Samsonite International SA rebounded 7.6 percent after it issued a statement saying its luggage is safe, following a Hong Kong Consumer Council report last week that found carcinogens in the handles of some models, which caused its shares to dive 16 percent.
But stock market operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. fell 4.5 percent as investors worried a $2.2 billion bid announced last week for the London Metal Exchange was too high.
Benchmark oil for July delivery was down 15 cents to $83.90 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 12 cents to end at $84.03 a barrel in New York on Friday.
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