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Asian stocks subdued on yen warn, United States inflation in focus

Asian stocks were muted as financiers kept watch for possible intervention by Japanese authorities to stop the yen's decline and awaited U.S. inflation data later on Wednesday for hints to future rate of interest relocations.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.2%, after U.S. stocks ended the previous session with mild gains. The index is up 0.2% so far this month.

The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was at 4.3636% compared to its U.S. close of 4.366% on Tuesday. The two-year yield, which increases with traders' expectations of higher Fed fund rates, touched 4.7426%. compared to a U.S. close of 4.747%.

Australian shares were up 0.3% in early trade, while. Japan's Nikkei stock index was down 0.41%. The Nikkei is. wanting to evaluate 40,000 points again, with the yen's slide seen. assisting fuel that push.

However, more weak point in the Japanese currency could. timely authorities to intervene, especially if the yen breaks. 152 per dollar.

Market individuals will be on high alert for a potential. FX intervention from Japan's Ministry of Finance (MoF) today,. CBA financial experts said. They included that a strong U.S. inflation. report would prompt dollar-yen to rally, which could lead the. Japanese government to begin buying yen.

In Asian trade, the dollar dropped 0.01% versus the yen to. 151.76. The currency is getting closer to its high this. year of 151.97 on March 27.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index edged up 0.7% early while. China's blue chip CSI300 index was flat.

The European single currency was flat at $1.0856,. having actually acquired 0.64% in a month, while the dollar index,. which tracks the greenback against a basket of currencies of. other significant trading partners, was down at 104.1.

U.S. customer cost information due on Wednesday will be closely. seen by investors as they seek direction on the next relocation in. interest rates. The data is anticipated to reveal an increase in headline. inflation to 3.4% year-on-year, from 3.2% in February.

Markets are looking at the data to address one concern: is. inflation sticky or is the disinflation progress in line with. Fed's expectations?, ANZ's economists stated.

We believe the information will recommend that inflation pressures are. subsiding gradually.

The possibility of a U.S. interest rate cut as early as June is. now being considered by financial markets, with the inflation. checking out seen as key to the central bank's next move.

The Fed funds futures market is currently pricing about a. 60% chance of a June cut. A strong core CPI of 0.3% for the. month or above can even more moisten the case for a June rate cut,. pushing U.S. yields and the USD dramatically higher, said CBA. economic experts in a note.

However if the core CPI prints below 0.3% for the month, market. prices for a June cut might just increase decently and the USD may. edge a little lower.

In the U.S., the Dow Jones index finished down 0.02%,. the S&P 500 acquired 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite. increased 0.3%.

U.S. unrefined ticked up somewhat to $85.31 a barrel. Brent crude was flat at $89.42 per barrel.

Gold was a little higher. Spot gold traded at. $ 2,352.93 per ounce.

(source: Reuters)