Asian Markets Track Wall St Rally as Traders Weigh Russia Sanctions

A pedestrian walks past a stock indicator displaying the Nikkei 225 of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (C, top) and other world stock markets in Tokyo on 16 August 2021. AFP

Equities bounced back Friday from the previous day's rout with investors taking their lead from a rally on Wall Street after Washington decided against imposing the stiffest sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to send troops into Ukraine sent shockwaves through Asian and European markets and sent oil past $100 for the first time since 2014 as traders contemplated a major conflict in Eastern Europe.