Latest News

Asia stocks stall on China real estate plan, 'Trump trade' lifts dollar

storyp1> SINGAPORE, Oct 17 (Reuters) Asian shares gave back early gains on Thursday as a real estate policy rundown in China underwhelmed investors, while the dollar stood near 21/2 month highs on the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency.

International bonds were firm following a surprisingly big drop in British inflation and as the European Central Bank is expected to make its first back-to-back rate cut in 13 years.

Results at chipmaking giant TSMC2330. TW will be in focus, after a soft outlook from equipment supplier ASMLASML.AS that battered chip stocks.

Japan's Nikkei . N225 slipped 0.6% and falling property shares in China relaxed the more comprehensive market's early-morning gains. The Shanghai Composite . SSEC was flat and Hong Kong's Hang Seng called back a 2% gain to trade 0.6% greater at 0325 GMT.

China's CSI300 real estate index . CSI000952 shed 5% to hand back 2 days of gains.

China's housing minister assured to enhance builders' access to financing for completing thousands of projects and the reserve bank's deputy governor stated cuts to down payments had already enhanced confidence and sales.

But there was no new gesture to thrill markets about a significant revival for a sector where a crackdown on designers' borrowing has set off a wave of defaults, while declining rates have shaken families' faith in the property class.

Property designer Sunac China 1918. HK, taking the recent rally as a cue to raise capital, helped to dampen the mood. Hong Kong-listed mainland designers . HSMPI were down 3%.

Some financiers took the opportunity to capitalize fortunately today, leading to a pullback, said Kenny Ng, expert at China Everbright Securities International.

Australian shares . AXJO likewise reduced from a record high as mining stocks slipped and iron ore rates fell in Singapore SZZFX4. U.S. equities futures ESc1 wobbled lower after the primary indexes closed at or near record levels on Wednesday.

DOLLAR GAINS

Foreign exchange markets, on the other hand, have sent out the dollar greater tracking an enhancement in Republican Donald Trump's fortunes in prediction markets for the U.S. governmental race.

Trump's tariff, tax and migration policies are viewed as inflationary, and hence negative for bonds and favorable for the dollar. The euro was at $1.0862 and pinned near its most affordable since early August. The yen traded at 149.40 per dollar JPY=EBS.

It's most likely only in the last two or three days that the concept of a Trump victory is getting the U.S. dollar quote, said Damien McColough, head of rates technique at Westpac.

There's also the principle of a strong economy and less Fed rate cuts, so the 2 merge, he stated. Trump and the Republicans are seen as most likely to use a softer touch to cryptocurrency policy. Bitcoin BTC= has rallied in current sessions.

Bitcoin is up 15% in a week to $67,615. Gold XAU= hovered at $2,677 an ounce, just short of record levels.

The Australian dollar AUD=D3 bounced from a one-month low in Asia after data showed net employment blowing previous projections and pressing out rate cut bets.

U.S. retail sales data is due in the future Thursday. Data on Wednesday revealed that British inflation slowed greatly to an annualised 1.7%, boosting bets that the Bank of England could cut rates two times before Christmas. 0 #BOEWATCH

Rates markets have actually priced a near 90% chance of 2 25-basis-point rate cuts before year's end and the news sent out sterling GBP=D3 down 0.6% to its most affordable because Aug. 20, while assisting to press gilt and international bond yields lower.GB/ GVD/EUR US/ Benchmark 10-year U.S. yieldsUS10YT=RR were constant at

4.03%in Asia and two-year yields US2YT=RR held at 3.95%. Sterling traded at$1.2993, near its overnight low. GBP/ In product trade, Brent crude futures LCOc1 steadied at$74.57 a barrel after 4 sessions of losses. Industry information showed an unexpected drop in U.S. crude stockpiles recently. O/R World FX rates YTD http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh Asian stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4( Reporting by Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Modifying by Jamie Freed and Edmund Klamann )To read Reuters Markets and