WELLINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Asian stocks will probably
make a positive start to the last day of the year, as another
U.S. indicator pointed to a promising economic picture in early
2010.
Trade in Asia for the last day of 2009 is certain to be light, with Japanese markets closed for a public holiday. Most other markets will be closed on Friday for New Years Day, with trade resuming on Monday.
Wall Street managed to squeeze into positive territory as profit-taking and investor caution cancelled out the positive mood from a surprise jump in an indicator of midwest business activity.
A firmer U.S. dollar also kept a lid on gains, with the currency hitting its highest in more than three months against the yen.
British and European markets both snapped winning streaks to finish as much as 0.7 percent lower, succumbing to profit taking in thin volumes.
Australian shares are set for a positive start, with stock index futures at 4,850, a 16.7 point premium to the underlying index's close on Wednesday.
HEADLINES: > Treasury to dole out $3.8 billion more for GMAC > Wall St ends a tad higher;Dow, Nasdaq at '09 highs > US Midwest business jump fuels job market hopes > Afghan suicide blast kills eight U.S. civilians > US spy chief in spotlight after botched attack > Ex-McKinsey director may be in Galleon plea deal > US panel OKs duties on China steel in record case > Strike looms as Chile Codelco, Chuqui miners dig i > Oil up for sixth day on stock draw, cold weather > Saab bid deadline dropped, to resume output > Saudis quit Caribbean oil storage; China steps in
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.05
Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.03
Nasdaq Composite Index +0.13
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan +0.05
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Markets closed, public holiday
HONG KONG - Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd
meeting
AUSTRALIA - Private sector and housing credit, November
INDIA - Fiscal deficit data
- Infrastructure output data
STH KOREA - December and yearly consumer price index
(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.
Trade in Asia for the last day of 2009 is certain to be light, with Japanese markets closed for a public holiday. Most other markets will be closed on Friday for New Years Day, with trade resuming on Monday.
Wall Street managed to squeeze into positive territory as profit-taking and investor caution cancelled out the positive mood from a surprise jump in an indicator of midwest business activity.
A firmer U.S. dollar also kept a lid on gains, with the currency hitting its highest in more than three months against the yen.
British and European markets both snapped winning streaks to finish as much as 0.7 percent lower, succumbing to profit taking in thin volumes.
Australian shares are set for a positive start, with stock index futures at 4,850, a 16.7 point premium to the underlying index's close on Wednesday.
HEADLINES: > Treasury to dole out $3.8 billion more for GMAC > Wall St ends a tad higher;Dow, Nasdaq at '09 highs > US Midwest business jump fuels job market hopes > Afghan suicide blast kills eight U.S. civilians > US spy chief in spotlight after botched attack > Ex-McKinsey director may be in Galleon plea deal > US panel OKs duties on China steel in record case > Strike looms as Chile Codelco, Chuqui miners dig i > Oil up for sixth day on stock draw, cold weather > Saab bid deadline dropped, to resume output > Saudis quit Caribbean oil storage; China steps in
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.05
Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.03
Nasdaq Composite Index +0.13
MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan +0.05
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see
JAPAN - Markets closed, public holiday
HONG KONG - Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd
meeting
AUSTRALIA - Private sector and housing credit, November
INDIA - Fiscal deficit data
- Infrastructure output data
STH KOREA - December and yearly consumer price index
(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.