By Pete Schroeder
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Asian markets were set for sideways trade at Thursday's open as lingering pandemic concerns pushed against stronger economic data, and with little firm direction from Wall Street.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was down 0.1% in early trading, while {{178|Japan's NiNikkei 225 futures NKc1 were up 0.05%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures .HSI .HSIc1 were down 0.2%.
The MSCI's global stock index .MIWD00000PUS was up 0.04%.
Strong retail sales out of the United States, coupled with new indications the Federal Reserve will maintain its accommodative stance and an ongoing push for further U.S. stimulus, helped drive expectations the world's largest economy will continue to post gains coming out of the pandemic.
But concern at the rapid spread of new variants tempered enthusiasm.
"With an even larger stimulus package likely to be passed by Congress before the end of March, the U.S. economic recovery could gain more momentum in 2021," wrote Commonwealth Bank of Australia currency analyst Carol Kong.
"Despite the recent positive vaccine developments, the global economic outlook remains uncertain partly because of the spreading virus variants."
On Wall Street, technology stocks faced some pressure on inflation concerns, driving down the Nasdaq while other companies rose on broader economic optimism.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 0.29%, while the S&P 500 .SPX lost 0.03% and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 0.58%. while investors eyed inflation, minutes from the January Fed meeting showed policymakers willing to push further accommodation to boost the pandemic-scarred U.S. economy. optimism spread to the U.S. dollar, which rose against other currencies. The dollar index, a measure of the currency's strength against six other major currencies was last 0.25% higher =USD . risk-on appetite was also apparent in bitcoin, which continued its upward march to exceed $52,000 amid signs it may be gaining more mainstream acceptance. ongoing deep freeze in Texas continued to drive up oil prices, as the unusually cold weather hampered output at the largest U.S. crude producing state. Brent crude .LCOc1 gained 1.6%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude .CLc1 settled up 1.8%, both levels not seen since January 2020. U.S. Treasury yields were down slightly Wednesday amid the stronger economic data. The benchmark 10-year yield US10YT=RR , which touched 1.333%, its highest level since Feb. 27, 2020, later dropped to 1.2720%. The 30-year U.S. yield also dropped. gold XAU= edged 0.2% lower to $1,815.80 per ounce pressured by higher benchmark U.S. Treasury yields. U.S. gold futures .GCv1 fell 0.4% to $1,815.70 per ounce. Global assets
http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl Global currencies vs. dollar
http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh Emerging markets
http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV MSCI All Country World Index Market Cap
http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>