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Asia stocks stumble over slipping yuan

Asian equities struggled for traction on Tuesday as mixed messages from U.S. monetary policymakers and a wobble in the Chinese yuan left traders unsettled and tentative with Friday's release of U.S. inflation information hanging over the outlook.

The threat of Japan intervening to prevent further falls in the yen squeezed the dollar, however it increased versus the yuan on speculation that China might endure a weaker currency.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan increased 0.3%, led by chipmaker gains for South Korea's Kospi. Other markets lacked direction and wandered either side of flat, with belief in China and Hong Kong still vulnerable after Friday's abrupt slide in the yuan.

Financiers in Hong Kong were waiting on signs of assistance for the residential or commercial property market and to see whether Friday's unexpected fall in the yuan indicated a policy shift, stated Steven Leung, director of institutional sales at broker UOB Kay Hian.

Insurance company AIA, down 17% in 10 trading days considering that the business did not assure brand-new buybacks in its outcomes announcement, highlighted the delicate mood.

Japan's Nikkei was stable as was the yen, which last traded at 151.38 per dollar. S&P 500 futures increased 0.1%. European futures were flat. FTSE futures fell 0.3%.

On Monday, the blended outlook from Federal Reserve authorities tossed a few wildcards into the policy outlook while markets wait on the next U.S. inflation indications due on Great Friday.

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said he had actually pencilled in 3 rate cuts this year, while Fed Governor Lisa Cook advised caution and Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic re-iterated Friday remarks cutting his expectations to one cut.

Comments by FOMC participants recommend to us that 4 voters-- Bostic, Bowman, Mester, and Barkin-- see absolutely no, one or two cuts this year, said Standard Chartered strategist Steve Englander.

We still think (chairman Jerome) Powell has eight choose Alleviating, but he probably does not want an 8-4 vote on the cut of the cycle. Rather, he might hope that great inflation outcomes will enable him to swing a couple of votes into the cutting camp in the coming months.

YEN STEADY, YUAN SLIPPERY

U.S. interest rate futures cost about 3 Fed rate cuts this year and about a three-in-four chance of the first cut in June.

U.S. two-year yields, which track short-term rates of interest expectations, rose in New york city trade over night then fell 3.5 basis points in Asia trade to 4.59%.

In foreign exchange, Monday's rhetoric from Japan's top currency diplomat, Masato Kanda, kept the yen stable as traders weigh the risk of Japan buying greatly. Kanda stated the yen's. current slide was unusual and speculative.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) lifted interest rates last week. the yen has fallen near to three-decade lows on the dollar.

China's yuan opened consistent after a stronger-than-expected. fixing of its trading band, but selling pressure soon drove it. to the weak side of its 200-day moving average at 7.2184 per. dollar.

Markets were unsettled by a sharp drop in the yuan on. Friday, after months of tight trading, and some hypothesize China. is loosening its grip on the currency to permit it to fall.

Whether this shows a shift in FX policy remains to be. seen however accommodative monetary conditions are necessary in the. face of development headwinds, said BofA Securities' strategist. Adarsh Sinha.

If (yuan) depreciation sustains and corresponds with a weaker. credit impulse, Asia FX is vulnerable.

Later Tuesday, U.S. production, services and customer. self-confidence figures are due. U.S. core PCE information is due on Friday.

Gold and oil rates were broadly consistent in products. trade, with area gold at $2,172 an ounce and Brent crude. futures up 7 cents a barrel to $86.82.

Bitcoin hovered simply above $70,000 after increasing. greatly on Monday.

(source: Reuters)