Nikkei

The Nikkei rose almost 3% to hit a six-month high overnight after comments in parliament by the Japanese finance minister on currency intervention.

CURRENCIES

David Jane has ramped up Japanese equity and REIT exposure in the TM Darwin Multi Asset fund, following the sell-off in May.

Markets across Asia have fallen on news the US government may be headed for its first shutdown of services in almost 20 years.

Shares in investment manager Ashmore Group have jumped more than 8% after the company released strong full year results this morning.

Asian stocks have soared, led by Japan's Nikkei, as investor confidence was boosted by Tokyo winning the race to host the 2020 Olympics.

Improving factory data and a sliding yen helped lift Japanese shares overnight, amid a positive session for Asian markets in general.

Shares in the US closed sharply lower overnight, with some indices hit by the worst one-day percentage falls since late June, as positive jobs data sparked fears of an earlier move to taper QE than expected.

Japan's Nikkei has soared while the yen has tumbled against the dollar, amid speculation the government is considering a corporate tax cut.

Japan Q2 GDP has come in well short of expectations as annualised growth of just 2.6% deals a blow to 'Abenomics' advocates.