WELLINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Asian stocks will probably
make a shaky start on Friday after a surge in the U.S. dollar
slashed demand for riskier assets.
Wall Street stocks closed down at least 1.2 percent, with banks hard hit after an influential analyst cut estimates on Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and a stock and bond offering by Citigroup Inc attracted weak demand .
The U.S. dollar rose to its highest in more than three months against the euro, and was firmer against the yen, building on gains made in the wake of the Federal Reserve statement and mounting concerns about fiscal problems in the euro zone.
British and European shares closed as much as 1.9 percent lower, with banks leading the losses on the weak U.S. lead and concerns over proposed tough new regulations.
Japan's Nikkei average is set for a flat start, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago closing 20 points higher than the Osaka close.
Australian shares are set to fall, with stock index futures at 4,626, a 44.3 point discount over the underlying index's close on Thursday.
HEADLINES: > Oracle beats Street, software sales up > Senate panel backs Bernanke for second term > Basel group wants stricter bank standards by 2012 > U.S. data points to economic recovery continuing > Wall St sinks as dollar soars,FedEx loses altitude > Citi shares fall after U.S. delays stock sale > Dubai scrambles to restore confidence > FedEx forecast disappoints, shares close down > Big EIA natgas drawdown again spikes prices > OPEC to keep oil supply steady, bets on economy > Greek markets hammered as strikers march > US backs $100 bln climate fund, world leaders meet
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -2.12
Dow Jones Industrial Average -1.27
Nasdaq Composite Index -1.22
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan -1.19
Nikkei futures in Chicago 10,170
Nikkei futures in Osaka 10,150
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Bank of Japan concludes two-day policy meeting
HONG KONG - Ping An Insurance (Group) Co of China
meeting
- China Corn Oil Co Ltd trading debut.
- Shengli Oil & Gas Pipe Holdings Ltd
trading debut.
AUSTRALIA - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group
annual meeting
(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 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.
Wall Street stocks closed down at least 1.2 percent, with banks hard hit after an influential analyst cut estimates on Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and a stock and bond offering by Citigroup Inc attracted weak demand .
The U.S. dollar rose to its highest in more than three months against the euro, and was firmer against the yen, building on gains made in the wake of the Federal Reserve statement and mounting concerns about fiscal problems in the euro zone.
British and European shares closed as much as 1.9 percent lower, with banks leading the losses on the weak U.S. lead and concerns over proposed tough new regulations.
Japan's Nikkei average is set for a flat start, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago closing 20 points higher than the Osaka close.
Australian shares are set to fall, with stock index futures at 4,626, a 44.3 point discount over the underlying index's close on Thursday.
HEADLINES: > Oracle beats Street, software sales up > Senate panel backs Bernanke for second term > Basel group wants stricter bank standards by 2012 > U.S. data points to economic recovery continuing > Wall St sinks as dollar soars,FedEx loses altitude > Citi shares fall after U.S. delays stock sale > Dubai scrambles to restore confidence > FedEx forecast disappoints, shares close down > Big EIA natgas drawdown again spikes prices > OPEC to keep oil supply steady, bets on economy > Greek markets hammered as strikers march > US backs $100 bln climate fund, world leaders meet
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -2.12
Dow Jones Industrial Average -1.27
Nasdaq Composite Index -1.22
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan -1.19
Nikkei futures in Chicago 10,170
Nikkei futures in Osaka 10,150
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Bank of Japan concludes two-day policy meeting
HONG KONG - Ping An Insurance (Group) Co of China
meeting
- China Corn Oil Co Ltd trading debut.
- Shengli Oil & Gas Pipe Holdings Ltd
trading debut.
AUSTRALIA - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group
annual meeting
(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 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.