WELLINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Asian stocks are seen likely
to open mixed on Monday, as optimism over further policy support
for the world's largest economy is offset by concerns over bank
exposure to the U.S. mortgage market.
The main Wall Street indexes ranged from a 0.3 percent fall for the Dow Jones to a 1.4 percent jump for the Nasdaq on Friday with the latter prompted by an 11 percent jump in Google Inc, after its third-quarter result beat expectations.
Apple Inc shares gained 4.4 percent to a new intraday high, rounding out a strong session for tech stocks.
Appetite for stocks got a boost from comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke which pointed to further monetary stimulus.
In contrast banks were weaker on uncertainty surrounding the potential impact of the foreclosure crisis, with the KBW bank index extending losses to be down almost six percent in the three days to Friday.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street fell 0.73 percent.
British shares fell 0.4 percent on weaker banks and energy companies, while European shares edged 0.1 percent higher on Bernanke's comments.
The Australian dollar briefly reached parity before retreating as investors bet the U.S. dollar's recent falls may have been overdone, although the bias for the greenback is seen lower on expectations of easing from the Fed.
The U.S. dollar was steady close to 15-year lows against the yen.
Japanese markets are seen making a steady start, with Nikkei futures trading in Chicago 70 points above the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian shares are seen opening flat, with share index futures down 16 points to 4686, a 3 point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index.
Global miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have agreed to abandon their proposed $116 billion iron-ore joint venture without triggering a $250 million break fee, the two companies said on Monday.
HEADLINES: > BHP, Rio Tinto agree to scrap $116 bln iron ore JV > U.S. backs off in currency dispute with China > Bernanke sees case for more Federal Reserve easing > Google lifts Nasdaq, but falling banks hurt Dow > U.S. inflation slows, keeping pressure on Fed > Bank stocks hit again by U.S. foreclosure mess > GE posts sales slump, rattles recovery hopes > US to probe if China clean energy actions legal > Sinochem won't bid for Potash Corp, sources say > Google wows Street with mobile, display ad growth > Globally, the flash crash is no flash in the pan > France refinery strike worries suppliers:Total CEO > Heartfelt homecoming for Chile's rescued miners
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.73
Dow Jones Industrial Average -0.29
Nasdaq Composite Index +1.37
Nikkei futures in Chicago 9,590
Nikkei futures in Osaka 9,520
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
JAPAN - Reuters tankan for October
- Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co to announce
November prices
HONG KONG - Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings) Ltd
final results
- Ta Yang Group Holdings Ltd final
results
INDIA - Infosys Technologies Ltd Sept quarter
results
(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 2010. 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 Wall Street indexes ranged from a 0.3 percent fall for the Dow Jones to a 1.4 percent jump for the Nasdaq on Friday with the latter prompted by an 11 percent jump in Google Inc, after its third-quarter result beat expectations.
Apple Inc shares gained 4.4 percent to a new intraday high, rounding out a strong session for tech stocks.
Appetite for stocks got a boost from comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke which pointed to further monetary stimulus.
In contrast banks were weaker on uncertainty surrounding the potential impact of the foreclosure crisis, with the KBW bank index extending losses to be down almost six percent in the three days to Friday.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street fell 0.73 percent.
British shares fell 0.4 percent on weaker banks and energy companies, while European shares edged 0.1 percent higher on Bernanke's comments.
The Australian dollar briefly reached parity before retreating as investors bet the U.S. dollar's recent falls may have been overdone, although the bias for the greenback is seen lower on expectations of easing from the Fed.
The U.S. dollar was steady close to 15-year lows against the yen.
Japanese markets are seen making a steady start, with Nikkei futures trading in Chicago 70 points above the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian shares are seen opening flat, with share index futures down 16 points to 4686, a 3 point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index.
Global miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have agreed to abandon their proposed $116 billion iron-ore joint venture without triggering a $250 million break fee, the two companies said on Monday.
HEADLINES: > BHP, Rio Tinto agree to scrap $116 bln iron ore JV > U.S. backs off in currency dispute with China > Bernanke sees case for more Federal Reserve easing > Google lifts Nasdaq, but falling banks hurt Dow > U.S. inflation slows, keeping pressure on Fed > Bank stocks hit again by U.S. foreclosure mess > GE posts sales slump, rattles recovery hopes > US to probe if China clean energy actions legal > Sinochem won't bid for Potash Corp, sources say > Google wows Street with mobile, display ad growth > Globally, the flash crash is no flash in the pan > France refinery strike worries suppliers:Total CEO > Heartfelt homecoming for Chile's rescued miners
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.73
Dow Jones Industrial Average -0.29
Nasdaq Composite Index +1.37
Nikkei futures in Chicago 9,590
Nikkei futures in Osaka 9,520
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
JAPAN - Reuters tankan for October
- Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co to announce
November prices
HONG KONG - Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings) Ltd
final results
- Ta Yang Group Holdings Ltd final
results
INDIA - Infosys Technologies Ltd Sept quarter
results
(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 2010. 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.