WELLINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Asian stocks are set for a
quiet start on Monday, as investors look to major events this
week which will likely dictate the short-term fortunes of the
U.S. economy.
The main Wall Street indexes all closed flat on Friday, as investors turned cautious ahead of the results of the U.S. mid-term elections and the Federal Reserve's policy meeting.
Expectations of further stimulus from the Fed to lift the struggling U.S. economy are seen priced in to markets, with the main issue the extent of quantitative easing. For more see
The midterm elections have also garnered investor attention, with polls indicating a Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives. For details, see
Data showed U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a 2 percent annual rate as expected in the third quarter, but this was seen not changing the Fed's view.
Microsoft's stocks rose after it reported solid results, however Chevron Corp and Merck & Co both fell after their results disappointed.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street fell 0.33 percent.
British shares fell fractionally while European shares nudged higher, as utilities and energy stocks rising but miners fell.
Uncertainty over the extent of the expected Fed stimulus programme saw the U.S. dollar drift lower, putting the greenback within sight of a 15-year low against the yen
Japanese markets are seen opening little changed, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 5 points below the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian shares are also seen flat, with investors keeping an eye on the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision on Tuesday. Share index futures rose 0.4 percent to 4,664, a 2.4 point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .
HEADLINES: > U.S. GDP growth tepid in Q3, more Fed easing seen > Obama pushes tax break plan for businesses > Chevron, Total Q3 profits disappoint, shares down > Wall Street ends on a flat note > Foreign shares little changed; Asian ADRs dip > Judge denies Oracle attempt to delay SAP trial > EU sets sights on treaty change, new safety net > China rejects U.S. corn cargo, citing GMOs > Canadian provinces push Ottawa to block Potash bid > BHP Billiton plans to sweeten Potash bid - paper > California unveils greenhouse gas trading scheme > Nations agree historic deal to save nature
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.33
Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.04
Nasdaq Composite Index 0.00
Nikkei futures in Chicago 9,185
Nikkei futures in Osaka 9,190
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
JAPAN - Japan new vehicle sales data
- Astellas Pharma H1 results
HONG KONG - Hang Seng Bank Ltd third interim
dividend
- China Resources Land Ltd meeting
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd
meeting
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate; editing by Gyles Beckford)
((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 all closed flat on Friday, as investors turned cautious ahead of the results of the U.S. mid-term elections and the Federal Reserve's policy meeting.
Expectations of further stimulus from the Fed to lift the struggling U.S. economy are seen priced in to markets, with the main issue the extent of quantitative easing. For more see
The midterm elections have also garnered investor attention, with polls indicating a Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives. For details, see
Data showed U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a 2 percent annual rate as expected in the third quarter, but this was seen not changing the Fed's view.
Microsoft's stocks rose after it reported solid results, however Chevron Corp and Merck & Co both fell after their results disappointed.
Asian stocks listed on Wall Street fell 0.33 percent.
British shares fell fractionally while European shares nudged higher, as utilities and energy stocks rising but miners fell.
Uncertainty over the extent of the expected Fed stimulus programme saw the U.S. dollar drift lower, putting the greenback within sight of a 15-year low against the yen
Japanese markets are seen opening little changed, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago 5 points below the last closing level in Osaka.
Australian shares are also seen flat, with investors keeping an eye on the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision on Tuesday. Share index futures rose 0.4 percent to 4,664, a 2.4 point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .
HEADLINES: > U.S. GDP growth tepid in Q3, more Fed easing seen > Obama pushes tax break plan for businesses > Chevron, Total Q3 profits disappoint, shares down > Wall Street ends on a flat note > Foreign shares little changed; Asian ADRs dip > Judge denies Oracle attempt to delay SAP trial > EU sets sights on treaty change, new safety net > China rejects U.S. corn cargo, citing GMOs > Canadian provinces push Ottawa to block Potash bid > BHP Billiton plans to sweeten Potash bid - paper > California unveils greenhouse gas trading scheme > Nations agree historic deal to save nature
KEY INDEXES pct change
Bank of New York Asia ADR index -0.33
Dow Jones Industrial Average +0.04
Nasdaq Composite Index 0.00
Nikkei futures in Chicago 9,185
Nikkei futures in Osaka 9,190
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
JAPAN - Japan new vehicle sales data
- Astellas Pharma H1 results
HONG KONG - Hang Seng Bank Ltd third interim
dividend
- China Resources Land Ltd meeting
- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd
meeting
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate; editing by Gyles Beckford)
((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.