WELLINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Asian shares are set for a
subdued start on Tuesday, lacking a lead from the U.S. where
markets were closed for a national holiday but after European
shares fell on ongoing financial worries.
Funding concerns over the banking sector dragged Britain's leading share index lower, with the poor global economic outlook also hitting commodity stocks.
Japanese shares are likely to begin flat, with Nikkei futures traded in Osaka marginally firmer.
Investors will look to see whether the Japanese market can recoup some of Monday's losses, which came after data showed the economy contracted 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter, its largest fall in 35 years.
The U.S. dollar and the yen both gained on safe haven buying, after the weak Japanese growth data again pushed economic concerns to the fore.
Crude oil prices joined the wider slump in commodity prices, slipping below $37 a barrel.
HEADLINES > Japan's economy slumps as global gloom spreads > ECB warns must tread with care on rates, policy > Stocks, euro fall on banking fears, Japan data > Euro states must help troubled members-Germany > Czech, Hungary unveil stimulus, Romania mulls IMF > GM, UAW talks progress, race toward deadline > Lloyds' HBOS deal backlash builds, capital worry > UK's Brown to meet IMF, World Bank heads on G20 > China enjoys G7 praise, pillories 'Buy American' > IEA sees risk of oil supply crunch from 2010 > British, French submarines collide in Atlantic > Pakistan offers Islamic law to pacify Swat
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -1.15
Dow Jones Industrial Average -1.04
Nasdaq Composite Index -0.48
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan 2.00
Nikkei futures in Chicago -1.09
Nikkei futures in Osaka 0.13
ASIAN ADR ACTION FROM FRIDAY:
5 most actively traded: pct change
Infosys Tech -2.55
TSMC -1.19
UMC 5.13
Siliconware 2.07
BHP Billiton 1.83
Top 5 performers: pct change
Satyam 11.70
Alumina 5.42
UMC 5.13
Novogen 4.55
Chartered Semi 3.83
Bottom 5 performers: pct change
Prana Biotech -8.96
Kubota Corp. -6.85
Orix -6.54
Mitsui & Co. -5.25
Sony Corp. -4.74
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Preliminary Q4 GDP
- Sanyo Electric Co briefing
TAIWAN - Central Bank news conference
STH KOREA - Woori Bank CEO to hold news conference
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate) For top Asian company news, double click on: U.S. company news European company news U.S. weekly outlook European weekly outlook Forex news Global Economy news Tech/Telecoms/Media Banking news Political/General news Asia Macro data ASIA STOCK MARKETS: Pan-Asia........ Japan....... S.Korea... S.E. Asia....... Hong Kong... Taiwan.... Australia/NZ.... India....... China..... DIARIES & DATA: IPO diary/data Asia earnings diary U.S. earnings diary European diary Hong Kong diary Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Asian Stocks Dow Jones/NASDAQ / Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt Currency rates Keywords: MARKETS ASIA/ (adrian.bathgate@reuters.com; +64-4-4714233; Reuters Messaging: adrian.bathgate.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Funding concerns over the banking sector dragged Britain's leading share index lower, with the poor global economic outlook also hitting commodity stocks.
Japanese shares are likely to begin flat, with Nikkei futures traded in Osaka marginally firmer.
Investors will look to see whether the Japanese market can recoup some of Monday's losses, which came after data showed the economy contracted 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter, its largest fall in 35 years.
The U.S. dollar and the yen both gained on safe haven buying, after the weak Japanese growth data again pushed economic concerns to the fore.
Crude oil prices joined the wider slump in commodity prices, slipping below $37 a barrel.
HEADLINES > Japan's economy slumps as global gloom spreads > ECB warns must tread with care on rates, policy > Stocks, euro fall on banking fears, Japan data > Euro states must help troubled members-Germany > Czech, Hungary unveil stimulus, Romania mulls IMF > GM, UAW talks progress, race toward deadline > Lloyds' HBOS deal backlash builds, capital worry > UK's Brown to meet IMF, World Bank heads on G20 > China enjoys G7 praise, pillories 'Buy American' > IEA sees risk of oil supply crunch from 2010 > British, French submarines collide in Atlantic > Pakistan offers Islamic law to pacify Swat
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -1.15
Dow Jones Industrial Average -1.04
Nasdaq Composite Index -0.48
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan 2.00
Nikkei futures in Chicago -1.09
Nikkei futures in Osaka 0.13
ASIAN ADR ACTION FROM FRIDAY:
5 most actively traded: pct change
Infosys Tech -2.55
TSMC -1.19
UMC 5.13
Siliconware 2.07
BHP Billiton 1.83
Top 5 performers: pct change
Satyam 11.70
Alumina 5.42
UMC 5.13
Novogen 4.55
Chartered Semi 3.83
Bottom 5 performers: pct change
Prana Biotech -8.96
Kubota Corp. -6.85
Orix -6.54
Mitsui & Co. -5.25
Sony Corp. -4.74
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Preliminary Q4 GDP
- Sanyo Electric Co briefing
TAIWAN - Central Bank news conference
STH KOREA - Woori Bank CEO to hold news conference
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate) For top Asian company news, double click on: U.S. company news European company news U.S. weekly outlook European weekly outlook Forex news Global Economy news Tech/Telecoms/Media Banking news Political/General news Asia Macro data ASIA STOCK MARKETS: Pan-Asia........ Japan....... S.Korea... S.E. Asia....... Hong Kong... Taiwan.... Australia/NZ.... India....... China..... DIARIES & DATA: IPO diary/data Asia earnings diary U.S. earnings diary European diary Hong Kong diary Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Asian Stocks Dow Jones/NASDAQ / Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt Currency rates Keywords: MARKETS ASIA/ (adrian.bathgate@reuters.com; +64-4-4714233; Reuters Messaging: adrian.bathgate.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.