WELLINGTON, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Asian stocks are likely to make
a cautious start on Wednesday after a mixed performance in U.S.
and European shares, with concerns over the banking sector
weighing on sentiment.
The main U.S. share indices ranged between 0.2 percent lower and 0.4 percent higher in choppy trading, as renewed merger activity was countered by a downgrade of the technology sector.
British and European shares were sharply lower, as banks fell on poor results from UBS and shake-ups at Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, which agreed to sell off some businesses to limit reliance on government support.
Japanese shares are expected to open little changed, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 5 points below the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian stocks are also seen flat, with share index futures at 4,530, a 1.5 point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index's close on Tuesday.
Westpac Banking Corp, Australia's third biggest lender, reported a fall in second half profit, but said bad debts have peaked.
The U.S. dollar rose to a one-month high against the euro on concerns about the global banking sector, while the yen was flat against the greenback.
Oil prices rose more than 2 percent as data showing expansion in U.S. factory orders in September raised expectations of higher demand.
HEADLINES: > S&P and Nasdaq end higher as deal news helps > Buffett buying Burlington rail in his biggest deal > U.S. factory orders rise, bolstering recovery > Kraft profit tops expectations,Cadbury bid awaited > GM sees October sales bounce, Chrysler plunges > US sets prelim duties on China steel wire goods > Oil rises 2 pct on U.S. factory data, gold surge > UAW hopes for GM IPO 'sooner rather than later' > J&J slashing workforce,cites cost of drug research > White House warns of withdrawing stimulus too fast > Fed meet opens, seen hewing to easy-money course
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.06
Dow Jones Industrial Average -0.18
Nasdaq Composite Index +0.40
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan -1.24
Nikkei futures in Chicago 9,825
Nikkei futures in Osaka 9,830
ASIAN ADR ACTION:
5 most actively traded: pct change
TSMC -0.73
Siliconware -1.75
Infosys Tech 0.67
AU Optronics 0.91
Lihir Gold 7.61
Top 5 performers: pct change
Lihir Gold 7.61
Shanghai Pechem 4.60
Prana Biotech 2.43
Mitsui & Co. 2.24
Tata Motors 2.22
Bottom 5 performers: pct change
Novogen -5.61
Woori Fin Gp -5.34
SMIC -2.42
PT Indosat -2.41
Kookmin Bank -2.27
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Orix Corp H1 results
- Nissan Motor Co Q2 results
AUSTRALIA - Westpac Banking Corp full year results
- Coca-Cola Amatil Q3 trading update
- Telstra Corp annual meeting
- Retail trade, September
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)
((adrian.bathgate@reuters.com; +64-4-4714233; Reuters Messaging: adrian.bathgate.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 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 For expanded, multimedia Reuters Top News visit: * 3000 Xtra: visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * THOMSON ONE: visit topnews.thomsonone.com/topnews * ReutersStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com Keywords: MARKETS ASIA/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) 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.
The main U.S. share indices ranged between 0.2 percent lower and 0.4 percent higher in choppy trading, as renewed merger activity was countered by a downgrade of the technology sector.
British and European shares were sharply lower, as banks fell on poor results from UBS and shake-ups at Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds, which agreed to sell off some businesses to limit reliance on government support.
Japanese shares are expected to open little changed, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 5 points below the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian stocks are also seen flat, with share index futures at 4,530, a 1.5 point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index's close on Tuesday.
Westpac Banking Corp, Australia's third biggest lender, reported a fall in second half profit, but said bad debts have peaked.
The U.S. dollar rose to a one-month high against the euro on concerns about the global banking sector, while the yen was flat against the greenback.
Oil prices rose more than 2 percent as data showing expansion in U.S. factory orders in September raised expectations of higher demand.
HEADLINES: > S&P and Nasdaq end higher as deal news helps > Buffett buying Burlington rail in his biggest deal > U.S. factory orders rise, bolstering recovery > Kraft profit tops expectations,Cadbury bid awaited > GM sees October sales bounce, Chrysler plunges > US sets prelim duties on China steel wire goods > Oil rises 2 pct on U.S. factory data, gold surge > UAW hopes for GM IPO 'sooner rather than later' > J&J slashing workforce,cites cost of drug research > White House warns of withdrawing stimulus too fast > Fed meet opens, seen hewing to easy-money course
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.06
Dow Jones Industrial Average -0.18
Nasdaq Composite Index +0.40
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan -1.24
Nikkei futures in Chicago 9,825
Nikkei futures in Osaka 9,830
ASIAN ADR ACTION:
5 most actively traded: pct change
TSMC -0.73
Siliconware -1.75
Infosys Tech 0.67
AU Optronics 0.91
Lihir Gold 7.61
Top 5 performers: pct change
Lihir Gold 7.61
Shanghai Pechem 4.60
Prana Biotech 2.43
Mitsui & Co. 2.24
Tata Motors 2.22
Bottom 5 performers: pct change
Novogen -5.61
Woori Fin Gp -5.34
SMIC -2.42
PT Indosat -2.41
Kookmin Bank -2.27
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Orix Corp H1 results
- Nissan Motor Co Q2 results
AUSTRALIA - Westpac Banking Corp full year results
- Coca-Cola Amatil Q3 trading update
- Telstra Corp annual meeting
- Retail trade, September
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)
((adrian.bathgate@reuters.com; +64-4-4714233; Reuters Messaging: adrian.bathgate.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 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 For expanded, multimedia Reuters Top News visit: * 3000 Xtra: visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * THOMSON ONE: visit topnews.thomsonone.com/topnews * ReutersStation: view story .134 * Reuters Plus: from your WebDSS screen For more information on Top News, visit http://topnews.reuters.com Keywords: MARKETS ASIA/ (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) 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.