Markets build on gains as bank, rate concerns ease

A person wearing a mask stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm Monday, March 27, 2023, in Tokyo. Asian shares were mixed on Monday after stocks shook off a weak start to end higher on Wall Street despite persisting worries over banks on both sides of the Atlantic.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

HONG KONG (AFP): Most Asian markets built on a global rally Friday (March 31) as worries about the banking sector fade and traders grow optimistic central banks are near the end of their interest rate hiking cycle.

With the financial turmoil of recent weeks subsiding, traders are refocusing on the battle against inflation, though expectations for how high borrowing costs will go have lowered.