Global shares see vaccine-, stimulus-driven gains

Asian share markets and U.S. stock futures performed positively on Wednesday. The series of gains followed after coronavirus vaccine programs accelerated, and governments across the globe planned on ramping up spending in a bid to salvage their virus-battered economies.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan recorded a 0.51% increase, while Australian shares jumped 1.12%. Chinese shares shed 0.06% as Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.66%. South Korean shares, on the other hand, saw a 0.44% jump.

E-mini futures for the S&P 500 tallied a 0.46% gain. Wall Street’s upbeat session was mainly from U.S. President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion worth of stimulus package, with the Senate taking measures to allow Democrats to pass the bill without the approval of Republicans.