HONG KONG: Asian markets rose Monday (Dec 23) after big gains on Wall Street, with traders welcoming below-forecast US inflation data that tempered worries that the Federal Reserve will take a more hawkish tone with interest rates next year.
A holiday-thinned week got off to a healthy start after last week's sell-off sparked by the US central bank's outlook that suggested officials will not lower borrowing costs as much as previously hoped over the next 12 months.
