The political drama has dimmed enthusiasm for the administration’s pro-growth promises and overshadowed data showing the global economy may be firming. Of the S&P 500 names to report so far, 73 percent have topped profit estimates.StocksThe Topix was little changed as of 12:51 p.m. in Tokyo, after retreating as much as 0.9 percent earlier in the day. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.4 percent, while South Korea’s Kospi added 0.5 percent.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.7 percent as trading resumed after a two-day break. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 1 percent.China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index was a touch above expectations in January, suggesting stable growth heading into 2017.Markets in China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam remain closed for a holiday.Contracts on the S&P 500 rose less than 0.1 percent. - Bloomberg

Source: The Star February 01, 2017 04:07 UTC