OVERNIGHT

Asian stocks opened higher Monday, the WSJ reported, partly based on better U.S. recovery numbers Friday. The Fed has been giving various signals that an interest rate hike sooner rather than later might be in the cards if the numbers show what the Fed thinks are good enough to tolerate a hike without trashing the rebound.

Most Asian stock markets were higher on Monday after an upward revision in U.S. gross domestic prodMost Asian stock markets were higher on Monday after an upward revision in U.S. gross domestic product data stoked expectations for a steady recovery in the world’s largest economy Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average was recently up 0.8%. The Shanghai Composite Index was 0.3% higher. Singapore’s Straits Times index was up 0.1%. Meanwhile, stocks in Taiwan were 0.2% lower. 

Sinochem International Corp. offered to buy Singapore-listed Halcyon Agri Corp. in a deal that values the latter company at 450 million Singapore dollars (US$328.4 million). The deal will create the world’s largest listed rubber company. Halcyon shares will resume trading later today. On Friday, data showed that the U.S. economy grew at a 1.4% seasonally adjusted annual rate in the fourth quarter, compared with a previous estimate for 1% growth.

Another reason cited for the rebound in the Nikkei is March 31. The business year-end for most listed companies and investors buying shares before they go ex-dividend. Overall, though, trading was considered light.