STOCK MARKET - JAKARTA. Emerging market stocks climbed for a fourth straight session on Monday as hope for stimulus to support growth in the world's major economies buoyed investor sentiment, while currencies in the developing world were mixed against a tepid dollar.
MSCI's emerging market stocks index rose 0.2% to hit a five-week high with Asian shares providing the biggest boost.
Data over the weekend showing an unexpected drop in Chinese exports last month, bolstering expectations of more stimulus from the world' second largest economy with equity investors cheering Friday's central bank move to cut reserve requirements.
Mainland Chinese indices rose between 0.6% and 0.8%. The yuan, which recorded its best daily performance since June in the previous session, retreated to fall 0.2%.
"The latest move reflects the government's determination to use a combination of policy tools to stimulate the economy," said Huani Zhu, economist at Mizuho Bank.
"The easing measure also comes at a critical time as the economy is expected to face more tariffs, one tranche coming in mid-Oct and another in mid-Dec."
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South Korea's Kospi and Taiwan stocks also advanced higher, but Hong Kong stocks lagged the broader market to close 0.1% lower as pressure from anti-government protests grew.
Among stocks outside Asia, Turkey's BIST 100 index rose over 1%, while Moscow's MOEX index tacked marginally.
Emerging market currencies were mixed with expectations rife among investors for an easing package from the European Central Bank this Thursday, and a likely quarter point interest rate cut next week from the Federal Reserve.
The lira fell 0.5% with focus on the Turkish central bank's monetary policy meet this week after President Tayyip Erdogan said over the weekend he expected the central bank to keep cutting interest rates.
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The central bank, which slashed its key interest rate by 425 basis points to 19.75% last month, is under pressure to continue the downward trend as Erdogan looks to achieve an economic growth of 5% in 2020.
Russia's rouble tracked higher oil prices to hit a more than two-week high, while an improvement in the foreign policy conditions after a prisoner swap programme with Ukraine, boosted sentiment.
"In our view, this is an important step towards a gradual resolution of conflict between two countries and we think assets of both countries should benefit from a successful prisoners swap," said Credit Suisse analysts in a note.
The Polish zloty edged higher against the euro ahead of its monetary policy on Wednesday.
