Asia

By Tomo UetakeTOKYO (Reuters) - China's benchmark stock index skidded to four-year lows on Thursday, dragging Asian equities lower, while the dollar hit a one-week high as minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest meeting reinforced expectations that U.S. yields will rise further.The minutes from the Fed's Sept. 25-26 meeting showed every Fed policymaker backed raising interest rates last month and also generally agreed borrowing costs were set to rise further, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's view that the Fed was tightening too much.With very little enthusiasm coming from Asia, financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE to open 5 points higher, Frankfurt's DAX to advance just 6 points, and Paris's CAC to add 2 points. MSCI broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.7 percent.China's stock markets were hit hard, with the nation's premier warning that the economy faces increasing downward pressure, amid worries over the impact of an escalating tariff war with the … [Read more...] about Asia stocks falter as dollar, U.S. yields rise to one-week high

By Tomo UetakeTOKYO (Reuters) - Asian stocks were capped and the dollar rose to a one week-high in early Thursday trade after the minutes of the Federal Reserve's latest meeting showed broad agreement among board members on the need to raise borrowing costs further.The specter of rising U.S. dollar yields, which along with global trade tensions were at the center of last week's global equities rout, kept riskier appetite in check in Asia. MSCI broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.2 percent, while the Australian benchmark also dropped 0.2 percent. Japan's Nikkei average was flat, and appeared to struggle for headway. Data out earlier in the day showed exports from the world's third-biggest economy dropped for the first time since late 2016, hit by declines in shipments to the United States and China.The U.S. dollar index and Treasury yields rose to its highest levels in a week on Wednesday. The dollar index, which measures its value against six major peers, last … [Read more...] about Dollar at one week high after hawkish Fed minutes; Asia stocks capped

By Wayne ColeSYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian equities got some welcome relief on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. earnings reports drove a rebound on Wall Street and helped restore a little faith in emerging market stocks and currencies.Japan's Nikkei galloped out of the gates with a rise of 1.7 percent, but still has a way to go to recoup the past week's losses. "The Nikkei appears to have bottomed out," said Soichiro Monji, senior economist at Daiwa SB Investments. "The latest tumble was not driven by convincing factors - the market may have needed to adjust after its sharp rally and upcoming corporate earnings should provide evidence of solid economic fundamentals."MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.7 percent and South Korea 1.2 percent, while spreadbetters pointed to opening gains for the major European bourses. Chinese blue chips, however, lagged with a gain of only 0.2 percent and threatened to sour the mood. On Wall Street, the three major indexes had … [Read more...] about Asia shares echo Wall Street cheer, China more muted

By Wayne ColeSYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian equities got some welcome relief on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. earnings reports drove a rebound on Wall Street and helped restore a little faith in emerging market stocks and currencies.Japan's Nikkei galloped out of the gates with a rise of 1.7 percent, but still has a long way to go to recoup the past week's losses. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.7 percent and South Korea 1.2 percent. Chinese blue chips, however, lagged with a gain of only 0.2 percent. U.S. stocks had jumped more than 2 percent on Tuesday in reaction to upbeat earnings reports from major companies including UnitedHealth and Goldman Sachs."Analysts are looking at this reporting season in particular and the general data over the next couple of months for signs that the receding tailwinds of fiscal stimulus and the headwinds of tariffs are going to hit the U.S. market simultaneously," said Rakuten Securities Australia COO, Nick Twidale. "On … [Read more...] about Asia shares ride Wall Street bounce, China muted