Asian shares extend global recovery, volatility subsides

Asian shares gained

today (February 19)

, joining a global recovery for equity markets as sentiment improved gradually from a recent shakeout that stemmed from fears of creeping inflation and higher borrowing costs. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5 percent, having recovered more than 40 percent of their losses from late last month to last week’s low. Trading is expected to be slower than usual due to market holidays in the United States as well as Greater China. MSCI’s index of stock markets across the globe gained 4.3 percent last week, the best weekly performance since December 2011. The rebound came after a two-week rout that wiped off more than 10 percent of value at one point, triggered by worries a rise in U.S. inflation may boost dollar funding costs.