* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Asia ex-Japan stocks highest since Feb, led by China
* Some U.S. states delay reopenings as pandemic rages
* Major currencies range-bound, gold near highs
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, July 6 (Reuters) - Asian shares scaled four-month peaks on Monday as investors counted on super-cheap liquidity and fiscal stimulus to sustain the global economic recovery, even as surging coronavirus cases delayed re-openings across the United States.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS climbed 1% to its highest since February.
Eyes were on Chinese blue chips .CSI300 , which jumped 3%, on top of a 7% gain last week, to their loftiest level in five years. Even Japan's Nikkei .N225 , which has lagged with a soft domestic economy, managed a rise of 1.3%.
"We think there is a case for raising tactical allocation on Asian equities in the context of global equity portfolios," wrote analysts at Nomura in a note.
"We see a number of catalysts that could drive Asia ex-Japan (AeJ) equities' outperformance over U.S. equities in the near term," they added. "Better COVID-19 trends and mobility data in economies/markets that dominate the AeJ index should translate into faster economic recovery vs the U.S."
E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 also firmed 0.8%, while EUROSTOXX 50 futures STXEc1 added 1.8% and FTSE futures FFIc1 1.5%.
Most markets had gained ground last week as a raft of economic data from June beat expectations, though the resurgence of coronavirus cases in the United States is clouding the future.
In the first four days of July alone, 15 states have reported record increases in new cases of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 3 million Americans and killed about 130,000, according to a Reuters tally. is very clear that the U.S. never got the COVID outbreak under control the way that other countries did. By reopening the economy too soon, we have seen a frightening increase in the pace of new cases," said Robert Rennie, head of financial market strategy at Westpac.
Analysts estimate that reopenings impacting 40% of the U.S. population have now been wound back.
"So markets will have to climb a wall of worry in July as economic activity likely softens from the V-shaped recovery seen over recent months," warned Rennie. "We must remember too that U.S. and China relations are deteriorating noticeably."
Two U.S. aircraft carriers conducted exercises in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday, the U.S. Navy said, as China also carried out military drills that have been criticised by the Pentagon and neighbouring states. risks, combined with unceasing stimulus from central banks, have kept sovereign bonds supported in the face of better economic data, with U.S. 10-year yields US10YT=RR holding at 0.67% and well off the June top of 0.959%.
Analysts at Citi estimate global central banks are likely to buy $6 trillion of financial assets over the next 12 months, more than twice the previous peak.
Major currencies have been largely range bound with the dollar index at 97.189 =USD having spent an entire month in a snug band of 95.714 to 97.808.
The dollar was a shade firmer on the yen at 107.72 JPY= on Monday, while the euro edged up to $1.1271 EUR= .
In commodity markets, gold has benefited from super-low interest rates across the globe as negative real yields for many bonds make the non-interest paying metal more attractive.
Spot gold traded at $1,772 per ounce XAU= just off last week's peak of $1,788.96. GOL/
Oil prices were mixed in early trade with Brent crude LCOc1 futures up 19 cents at $42.99 a barrel, while U.S. crude CLc1 eased 23 cents to $40.42 amid worries the surge in U.S. coronavirus cases would curb fuel demand. O/R
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