WELLINGTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Asian stocks look set to come
under pressure on Tuesday, as turmoil across the Middle East
sends oil prices sharply higher and investors shied away from
riskier assets such as equities.
Investors were following reports of escalating violence in Libya with protests sweeping the capital Tripoli and anti-government forces reportedly taking control of the city of Benghazi.
Brent crude futures hit $108 a barrel for the first time since 2008 on fears the violence might lead to supply disruptions.
Asian markets will have no U.S. lead, as Wall Street was closed on Monday for a public holiday.
British shares fell 1.1 percent while European shares dropped 1.3 percent as the Libyan violence made markets skittish, with volumes thinned by the U.S. holiday.
The euro slipped on risk aversion, but hawkish comments on inflation from euro zone officials limited losses, while the U.S. dollar and yen gained on safe-haven buying.
Japanese markets will likely fall, with Nikkei futures last trading in Osaka at 10,830, a 27.5 point discount to the index close on Monday.
Australian stocks may make a flat start, with share price index futures up 3 points to 4,898, unchanged from the close of the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index.
HEADLINES: > Gaddafi under threat as revolt hits Tripoli > Oil soars on Libya violence, WTI shorts cover > Egypt asks for freeze on Mubarak assets > BP partners Reliance in $7.2 bln Indian oil hunt > ECB policymakers ratchet up inflation warnings > Euro zone private sector booms but so do prices > Small BoE hike now may avert bigger move-Weale > Diageo raises its spirits with Turkish deal > Merck KGaA surprises with bullish profit outlook > Breakingviews-G20 'progress' too slow to matter > Greece's NBG digs in for Alpha Bank bid battle > China calls for domestic unrest to be defused
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
AUSTRALIA - OneSteel Ltd H1 results
- Sonic Healthcare H1 results
SINGAPORE - CapitaLand Q4 results
INDIA - Ranbaxy Ltd Q4 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 2011. 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.
Investors were following reports of escalating violence in Libya with protests sweeping the capital Tripoli and anti-government forces reportedly taking control of the city of Benghazi.
Brent crude futures hit $108 a barrel for the first time since 2008 on fears the violence might lead to supply disruptions.
Asian markets will have no U.S. lead, as Wall Street was closed on Monday for a public holiday.
British shares fell 1.1 percent while European shares dropped 1.3 percent as the Libyan violence made markets skittish, with volumes thinned by the U.S. holiday.
The euro slipped on risk aversion, but hawkish comments on inflation from euro zone officials limited losses, while the U.S. dollar and yen gained on safe-haven buying.
Japanese markets will likely fall, with Nikkei futures last trading in Osaka at 10,830, a 27.5 point discount to the index close on Monday.
Australian stocks may make a flat start, with share price index futures up 3 points to 4,898, unchanged from the close of the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index.
HEADLINES: > Gaddafi under threat as revolt hits Tripoli > Oil soars on Libya violence, WTI shorts cover > Egypt asks for freeze on Mubarak assets > BP partners Reliance in $7.2 bln Indian oil hunt > ECB policymakers ratchet up inflation warnings > Euro zone private sector booms but so do prices > Small BoE hike now may avert bigger move-Weale > Diageo raises its spirits with Turkish deal > Merck KGaA surprises with bullish profit outlook > Breakingviews-G20 'progress' too slow to matter > Greece's NBG digs in for Alpha Bank bid battle > China calls for domestic unrest to be defused
TOP ASIA EVENTS:
For more Asian company earnings, see ASIA/EQTY
AUSTRALIA - OneSteel Ltd H1 results
- Sonic Healthcare H1 results
SINGAPORE - CapitaLand Q4 results
INDIA - Ranbaxy Ltd Q4 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 2011. 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.