⏳ Final hours! Save up to 60% OFF InvestingProCLAIM SALE

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares grind lower amid vaccine doubts, economic concern

Published 27/11/2020, 11:40 am
© Reuters.
EUR/USD
-
XAU/USD
-
US500
-
AXJO
-
JP225
-
AZN
-
DX
-
GC
-
ESZ24
-
CL
-
MIAPJ0000PUS
-
MIWD00000PUS
-
BTC/USD
-

* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

* Highly-anticipated vaccine facing more scrutiny

* Equity markets pull back from record highs

* Oil hit by concerns about oversupply

* U.S. financial markets closed Thursday for Thanksgiving

By Stanley White

TOKYO, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Asian shares fell slightly on Friday, pulling back from a record high hit earlier this week, amid renewed doubts about a highly-anticipated coronavirus vaccine and concern about the economic impact from the pandemic.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS fell 0.07%. Australian shares .AXJO were down 0.15%. Japan's Nikkei .N225 fell 0.09%.

U.S. S&P 500 e-mini stock futures ESc1 fell 0.24% in early Asian trade. U.S. financial markets were closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday and will trade on a partial schedule later on Friday.

Oil prices looked set to extend their declines from a seven-month high due to signs of oversupply.

British drugmaker AstraZeneca's AZN.L coronavirus drug was touted as a "vaccine for the world" due to its inexpensive cost, but the efficacy of the vaccine is now facing more intense scrutiny, which experts say could delay its approval. scientists have raised doubts about the robustness of results showing the shot was 90% effective in a sub-group of trial participants who, by error initially, received a half dose followed by a full dose.

"With global case numbers having now topped 60 million... there is certainly some rough terrain ahead for the global recovery, and that can create economic scarring," analysts at ANZ Bank wrote in a memo.

MSCI's broadest gauge of world stocks .MIWD00000PUS was up 0.02% on Friday in Asia, sitting just below a record high reached in the previous session.

Doubts about the distribution of a coronavirus vaccine have placed renewed focus on the current state of the pandemic, which looks grim for many places.

U.S. hospitalizations for COVID-19 are at a record and experts warn that Thanksgiving could lead to further infections and deaths. than 20 million people across England will be forced to live under the toughest restrictions even after a national lockdown ends on Dec. 2. Partial lockdowns in some European countries have also raised concern about economic growth.

The European Central Bank's chief economist highlighted these concerns in dovish comments on Thursday, which pushed European bond yields lower. euro EUR=EBS , which last bought $1.1910, showed little reaction because currency traders have largely priced in expectations for additional ECB easing next month.

The dollar index =USD was near its lowest in more than two months, but moves were subdued due to the U.S. trading holiday.

U.S. crude CLc1 dipped 1.71% to $44.93 a barrel.

Fuel demand is falling due to renewed coronavirus lockdowns, but some oil producers are not complying with agreed production cuts, which raises concerns about oversupply.

Spot gold XAU= , which is often sought during times of uncertainty, was little changed at $1,809.51 per ounce following a 0.3% gain on Thursday. GOL/

Bitcoin BTC=BTSP , the world's biggest cryptocurrency, steadied at $17,180 on Thursday, but it tumbled by 8.4% in the previous session after failing to take out its record high of $19,666.

Bitcoin has rallied around 140% this year, fuelled by demand for riskier assets.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ World FX rates in 2020

http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh 2020 asset performance

http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.