- Title: Asia markets, experts watch final U.S. debate closely
- Date: 20th October 2016
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE WHITE SIGN READING (English): "JPX TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE" TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE MARKET CENTER ORANGE STOCK FLICKER TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE MARKET CENTER, CLOSING ANIMATION IN BACKGROUND TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE MARKET CENTER BOARD SHOWING JAPAN'S NIKKEI 225 CLOSING AT 17,174.05 POINTS UP 175.14 FROM THE PREVIOUS DAY SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (OCTOBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DIVERSITY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, LISA ANNESE WATCHING U.S. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DIVERSITY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, LISA ANNESE, SAYING: "I've been following the U.S. election really closely, I've found it really interesting not just because of the personalities that are involved but because of the way it has been commented on in the U.S. and global media and also in Australia, and the sorts of conversations that you have with individuals in workplaces or outside the workplace about the two different candidates and what it means for, you know, the state of the free world should one or the other be elected." ANNESE LISTENING TO JOURNALIST QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DIVERSITY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, LISA ANNESE, SAYING: "Well in terms of this question, I think that Hillary Clinton is probably your typical politician and behaves in much the way most politicians either side of politics behave. I think with Donald Trump, I don't think we have seen anything like him in Australia to the extent that someone who has almost gotten the top job. I don't think we have seen anyone who has gotten so close being accused of such you know, such terrible things as the sexual harassment claims that have come up against him or the recording of him on that Access Hollywood tape, which was really offensive to me but I know it was offensive to lots of people and really alarming for people who work in the area of trying to stop violence, especially sexual violence against women. So that sort of stuff I think is unprecedented at that level in terms of what I've been aware of in a Western democracy, however, I do see echoes of the sexism around Hillary Clinton that we saw when Julia Gillard, I think, was prime minister in Australia. The attacks on her legitimacy to actually be there - so we even saw tonight as the debate opened up a commentary on what Ms. Clinton was wearing but no commentary on what Mr. Trump was wearing. So I think that that's the sort of stuff that women, we don't, it's so unconscious, it's so ingrained in the way we are, we just know that that's part of the course of being a leader as a female, and really it should be irrelevant as long as she is comfortable and able to do her job, so I think that sort of sexism and those overtones, those sexist overtones, they do hark back, I think, to when Julia Gillard was prime minister." VARIOUS OF ANNESE WATCHING U.S. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
- Embargoed: 4th November 2016 03:32
- Keywords: U.S. debate presidential reactions Tokyo Sydney presidential debate Asia
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN / SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN / SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
- Country: Various
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00154T6WQV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As the third and final U.S. presidential election campaign, this time held in Las Vegas, drew to a close in the U.S. on Wednesday (October 20), much of Asia was only just waking up.
Japan's stock markets reacted positively to the face-off, closing on a positive note mid-day on Thursday (October 20).
Japan's Nikkei 225 closed at 17,174.05 points, up 175.14 points from the previous day, while the broader topix closed at 1,366.57 points, up 9.37 points from the previous day.
In Australia, Chief Executive Officer of the Diversity Council of Australia Lisa Annese watched the debate eagerly to see it would play out for the two candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.
"I've been following the U.S. election really closely, I've found it really interesting not just because of the personalities that are involved but because of the way it has been commented on in the U.S. and global media and also in Australia, and the sorts of conversations that you have with individuals in workplaces or outside the workplace about the two different candidates and what it means for, you know, the state of the free world should one or the other be elected," Annese said.
In the fiery debate that centered more on policy than the earlier showdowns, Trump accused Clinton's campaign of orchestrating a series of accusations by women who said the businessman made unwanted sexual advances.
Trump said all of the stories were "totally false" and suggested Clinton was behind the charges. He called her campaign "sleazy" and said, "Nobody has more respect for women than I do, nobody."
Annese said Trump's sexual harassment claims had been both "offensive" and "alarming" to many people, adding that Australia had never seen anything like the Republican candidate get so close to the "top job".
"That sort of stuff, I think, is unprecedented at that level in terms of what I've been aware of in a Western democracy," she said.
She did, however, say that the campaigns would resonate with Australia in terms of the treatment of female politicians, considering the "echoes of sexism" and "sexist overtones" surrounding both Clinton and former Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The diversity council of Australia is an independent, not-for-profit workplace diversity advisor to businesses in Australia. The council provides advice and strategy to over 300 member organizations.
This final debate gave Trump perhaps his best remaining chance to sway the dwindling number of Americans who are still undecided about their vote.
Clinton leads in national polls and in most of the battleground states where the election will likely be decided. The debate was her opportunity to make a closing argument on why she is best suited to succeed President Barack Obama. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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