Yellen, upbeat China trade report buoy risk assets

Asian shares rallied for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, as upbeat trade data from China and an optimistic economic outlook from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen whetted investors' appetite for risk.

Investors took heart from the strong performance on Wall Street and lifted MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan about 0.8 percent.

Chinese exports handily beat expectations in January, rising 10.6 percent from a year earlier, while imports jumped 10 percent, leaving the country with a trade surplus of USD 31.9 billion for the month.

"The trade figures were a bit of a surprise to the market," said Zhou Hao, an economist at ANZ in Shanghai. "The stronger-than-expected exports data also showed improvement in the global demand momentum."

Australia's main index added 0.7 percent and Japan's Nikkei stock average rose about 0.9 percent.

The buoyant mood offset the impact of a much weaker-than-expected report on Japanese machinery orders, which is a leading indicator of capital expenditure.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended Tuesday up 1.22 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 1.11 percent to post its best four-day performance in 13 months.

Stocks in Canada, Europe and emerging markets also rallied as Yellen was careful to rock no boats in her first testimony to Congress.

"Continuity in policy is the main message from Fed Chair Yellen's testimony," said John Peters, a senior economist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. "Equities did well in reaction to the Fed sticking with its relatively upbeat outlook on the economy."

"Crucially, the Fed hasn't downgraded its view on the US recovery in light of recent data releases or volatility in markets," he added. "Further QE tapering is on the cards at upcoming FOMC meetings and US yields should continue to rise."

The yields on 10-year Treasury notes pushed to two-week highs, rising to 2.724 percent from Tuesday's US close of 2.717 percent.

Sentiment got a further lift from news that the US House of Representatives had passed legislation increasing Washington's borrowing authority, removing the danger of default.

Stabilisation in emerging markets also helped after the turmoil of January. The Turkish lira and the South African rand have been grinding steadily higher for the past two weeks.

The calmer mood was reflected in the VIX index of volatility, which dived 4.9 percent to 14.51, pulling sharply away from its recent peak at 21.48.

The Australian dollar benefited from the better-than-expected Chinese trade report, adding 0.2 percent to USD 0.9054 and also edging up against the yen to 92.86.

China is Australia's biggest export market.

The US dollar was nearly flat on the day against its Japanese counterpart at 102.59, holding onto its gains made in the previous session after Yellen's remarks, while the euro was also steady, at USD 1.3632.

The single currency could be affected by a speech by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi later on Wednesday, while the Bank of England releases a report on inflation which should include an overhaul of forward guidance.

In commodity markets, spot gold fell 0.4 percent to USD 1,285.49 an ounce, snapping a three-day winning streak and giving back some of its sharp overnight gains as stocks rallied. But it was still not far from a three-month high of USD 1,293.44 hit on Tuesday.

Brent crude rose about 0.1 percent to USD 108.75 a barrel, while US crude gained 0.3 percent to USD 100.27, also bolstered by data from the American Petroleum Institute showing crude stocks fell by 2.5 million barrels at a key US delivery hub, and by expectations of increased US demand due to cold weather.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.6 percent to USD 7,121.25 a tonne, reversing losses from the previous session and moving away from a two-month low of USD 7,016 touched on February 4.