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Asia stocks increase; metals fly on making bets

Industrial metals costs extended their gains on Tuesday with expectations of a worldwide making rebound, while Asian shares approached a little bit more carefully ahead of today's U.S. inflation data and a. crucial European Reserve bank meeting.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan. rose 0.6%. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.8%. S&P. 500 futures and FTSE futures were flat while. European futures were down 0.18%.

In Shanghai, the most-traded May copper futures. increased more than 1% to a record high, while zinc and tin. made multi-month peaks and aluminium traded. just listed below Monday's two-year top.

Even iron ore, damaged by China's home. decline, steadied above $100 a tonne in Singapore.

It's basically a China bet, stated Vishnu Varathan, head. of economics at Mizuho Bank in Singapore.

It's coincided with a global production bottoming, and I. think that plays well into China's industrial recovery. That. aspect of it is a broader-based story for metals.

On Monday, data revealed German industrial production rising. more than expected in February.

Recently, data revealed U.S. producing growing for the. first time in one-and-a-half years. China's manufacturing. activity broadened for the first time in 6 months in March.

Among Asian bourses, Taiwan stocks touched a record. high, led by a more than 4% jump in shares of TSMC. after the world's biggest contract chipmaker won a $6.6 billion. subsidy for an Arizona production plant.

Chinese stocks were more circumspect, with mainland indexes. marginally lower and Hong Kong's Hang Seng up 0.7%,. though proxies outside China from European stock markets to the. Antipodean currencies have been standout gainers.

The Australian dollar is up almost 2% in a week and. traded at $0.6605 on Tuesday. The New Zealand dollar. strike a two-week high of $0.6047 in early morning trade.

China's yuan, down about 1.8% this year, has. found a flooring around 7.3 to the dollar.

Given that the beginning of March, the EuroSTOXX index. has increased 2.3% and Germany's DAX is up 3.2%. The Nasdaq. has been flat and the Nikkei has lost 1%.

CPI AND ECB AHEAD

The primary focus this week is on U.S. inflation information due on. Wednesday and the European Central Bank meeting on Thursday.

Expectations for U.S. rate cuts have been vaporizing this. year and now investors are not even sure whether there will be. 2 25 basis point cuts this year or 3 - after pricing in. January indicated an anticipated 6 cuts on the cards.

Ahead of Wednesday figures that are anticipated to show a. slight tick greater in annualised U.S. headline inflation, the. shift in the rates outlook has actually increased yields and pumped up. U.S. dollar long bets to levels starting to look stretched.

U.S. two-year yields, which track short-term. rates of interest expectations, touched their greatest because late. November at 4.801% on Tuesday, while ten-year yields. likewise hit 2024 highs of 4.46% on Monday.

A higher-than-expected print would add modest assistance. to the dollar, but a drawback surprise may see the dollar react. more to the disadvantage, OCBC Bank strategists said in a note.

The euro traded strongly in Asia at $1.0860 ahead of. a Thursday policy conference where investors expect the European. Reserve bank to flag a cut in June, however may see some risk that. they strike a hawkish tone instead.

The yen, meanwhile, continues to face heavy pressure as. investors see any lags in international rate cuts as leaving the space. large with Japan's near-zero rate of interest.

At 151.87 per dollar, the yen is a whisker from. last month's 34-year low of 151.975. Against the euro, the yen. is at its weakest for three weeks at 164.96.

Japanese Financing Minister Shunichi Suzuki said authorities. will not rule out any options in dealing with excessive yen. moves, repeating his caution that Tokyo is all set to act against. the currency's recent sharp decreases.

We anticipate (Japan) to step in above 152, but not. instantly on a break, Standard Chartered strategist Steve. Englander said in a note to clients.

(source: Reuters)