Asian share markets were in a wary mood on Wednesday as the White House took a tough line on trade talks with China, while a looming reading on U.S. inflation could shuffle the odds for an early cut in interest rates there. Data on Chinese inflation showed the annual pace picked up to a 15-month high of 2.7%, but only because surging pork prices pushed up the cost of food. Excluding food, inflation rose only 1.6% and suggested there was plenty of scope for more stimulus. Market moves were modest, with MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan off 0.38% after two days of gains. Japan's Nikkei dithered either side of flat, while Shanghai blue chips eased 0.5% following a 3% jump the day before. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 hardly budged. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was holding up a trade deal with China and had no interest in moving ahead unless Beijing agrees to four or five "major points" which he did not specify. He also took aim at the Federal … [Read more...] about Global Markets: Asia shares wary of Trump, wait on US inflation
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Asia shares on guard as Trump tilts at China, Fed
SYDNEY: Asian share markets got off to a cautious start on Wednesday as the White House took a tough line on a trade deal with China, just as investors were bracing for the latest batch of economic data from the Asian giant.Figures on consumer and producer prices are expected to confirm inflation remains subdued and no bar to further stimulus. Shanghai markets had rallied on Tuesday on news Beijing would allow local governments to use cash from special bonds to fund investment projects.Early Wednesday, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up a slim 0.1per cent, having climbed 1per cent the day before.Japan's Nikkei dithered either side of flat, while Australian shares added 0.3per cent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were little changed after a flat finish on Wall Street.President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was holding up a trade deal with China and had no interest in moving ahead unless Beijing agrees to four or five "major points" which he did not … [Read more...] about Asia shares on guard as Trump tilts at China, Fed
Asia shares dazed by trade uncertainty, US jobs risks
SYDNEY: Asian share markets dithered on Friday as investors waited for concrete signs of progress in the U.S.-Mexican trade standoff, while bracing for a U.S. jobs report that could sway the course of interest rates there.MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged 0.04per cent higher and looked set for another cautious session being up just 0.6per cent for the week so far.Japan's Nikkei firmed 0.3per cent, but South Korea slipped 0.5per cent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were mostly flat.Mexican and U.S. officials had held a second day of talks on trade and migration on Thursday amid reports President Donald Trump might delay the imposition of tariffs that was due on Monday.That had helped the Dow end Thursday up 0.71per cent, while the S&P 500 gained 0.61per cent and the Nasdaq 0.53per cent.However, the White House later said the tariffs would go ahead as scheduled, and there were reports Trump might declare a national emergency to dodge any Senate … [Read more...] about Asia shares dazed by trade uncertainty, US jobs risks
Asian shares steady after steep losses; Saudi comments lift oil
SHANGHAI: Share markets in Asia got off to a steady start on Monday as investors tried to catch their breath following another week of escalating trade tensions between the United States and China.In early trade, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan tacked on 0.6per cent after a steep 3per cent loss the previous week. U.S. S&P 500 e-mini futures also turned higher, rising 0.5per cent following losses on Wall Street on Friday.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.38per cent, the S&P 500 lost 0.58per cent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.04per cent.Australian shares jumped 1.4per cent after the center-right Liberal National Coalition pulled off a shock win in federal elections, beating the left-wing Labor Party.Japan's Nikkei stock index added 0.4per cent, after data showed growth in the world's third-biggest economy unexpectedly accelerated in the first quarter.The modest gains on Monday came even as financial markets remained on edge over the … [Read more...] about Asian shares steady after steep losses; Saudi comments lift oil
Asian markets calm as investors await US jobs report
SYDNEY: Asian share markets were subdued on Friday amid thin holiday trade although the dollar found support as investors pared expectations for a U.S. rate cut this year while oil prices loitered near one-month lows on oversupply fears.Australia's benchmark index was last up 0.2 percent, New Zealand shares were off 0.5 percent while South Korea's KOSPI slipped 0.3 percent. Trading volumes were light across Asia with markets in China and Japan still closed for holidays.Overnight on Wall Street, major indices gave up initial gains and closed in the red, weighed down by energy shares.World stocks have rallied hard this year - the S&P 500 has climbed more than 16 percent so far in 2019 - but further gains will be hard to come by, analysts at Capital Economics said."We are more downbeat on the outlook for the global economy. We forecast that GDP growth in advanced economies will slow from 2.2 percent in 2018 to just 1.0 percent in 2020," they said."As such, we are of the view that … [Read more...] about Asian markets calm as investors await US jobs report