Sawt Falasteen - Asian shares surge as investors cheer slower US inflation

Hong Kong stocks rocketed six percent at the open while Tokyo's key Nikkei index jumped more than three percent, although both had retreated slightly by mid-morning.

The gains extended global rallies after the US consumer price index (CPI) showed that the annual pace of inflation was a lower-than-expected 7.7 percent in October, down from 8.2 percent in September.

As US residents reel from sky-high costs, the central bank has moved forcefully to lower demand by raising the benchmark lending rate six times this year.

The latest inflation data should be welcome news to Fed policymakers, because prices are "finally showing some response" to the steep rate hikes, said Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics.

"Inflation has finally started to drop like a rock in the US and this is the best news that anyone can expect," added AvaTrade analyst Naeem Aslam.

The dollar slumped against rival currencies following the data release, and shares rallied as investors cheered the prospect of less hawkish moves by the central bank.

The Dow was up 3.7 at the close and the tech-heavy Nasdaq index soared 7.4 percent, while European markets also ended higher.

Most Asian markets matched the upbeat mood.

Taipei jumped 3.5 percent, Seoul was up 2.8 percent and Sydney climbed 2.6 percent.

Singapore rose 1.4 percent, Shanghai was up 1.1 percent and Wellington put on 2.0 percent, but Bangkok lost 0.2 percent.

"As expected, buying in Asia tech is standing out this morning," Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said.

"But with investors still looking over their shoulders at the crypto schism and rising Covid cases in China, that tide that was lifting all boats is starting to recede in places," he cautioned.

Trade may also be "dominated by profit-taking and position squaring" after the rallies overnight and ahead of a US market holiday on Friday.

The crypto world has meanwhile been rocked by a surprise decision from Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency platform, to scrap a possible acquisition of rival FTX.com -- plunging bitcoin to a two-year low.

- Key figures around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.7 percent at 28,200.75 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 5.2 percent at 16,925.56

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 3,071.43

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.1678 from $1.1642 on Thursday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0188 from $1.0131

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 142.13 yen from 143.15 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 87.26 pence from 87.20 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.3 percent at $86.75 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.3 percent at $93.95 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 3.7 percent at 33,715.37 points (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 1.1 percent at 7,375.34 (close)

C.Hamad--SF-PST