(Adds European futures, updates levels throughout)
* MSCI Asia ex-Japan on backfoot as yields stay high
* Index on track for its first monthly loss since October 2020
* U.S. dollar hovers near one-year highs against Japanese yen
* Oil ticks higher, gold edges down
By Swati Pandey
SYDNEY, March 31 (Reuters) - Asian stocks were on the backfoot on Wednesday while the safe-haven dollar held near a one-year high as Treasury yields resumed their upward march, hitting sentiment even as Chinese data underpinned signs of a solid global economic recovery.
The lead for Europe was weaker too, with futures for eurostoxx 50 STXEc1 , Germany's Dax FDXc1 and London's FTSE FFIc1 off 0.2% each. E-mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 were barely changed.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside of Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS eased from a one-week high of 682.36 points to be last at 678.22 to drift further away from an all-time peak of 745.89 touched just last month.
For the month so far, the index is down 2.2% to be on track for its first loss in five months. It is poised for its fourth consecutive quarterly gain though it would be the smallest increase since a 21% fall in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
"Markets are watching closely to gauge the damage and potential ripple effects caused by the Archegos Capital Management crisis," ANZ analysts wrote in a note.
Some global banks are facing billions of dollars in losses after U.S. investment firm Archegos Capital Management LP defaulted on margin calls, putting investors on edge about who else might be exposed. some this serves as a timely reminder that while pandemic risks are abating, financial market risks remain elevated," ANZ added.
The risk-off mood lately has been set off by a surge in bond yields. U.S. Treasury yields skyrocketed 83 basis points just this quarter, the biggest increase in over a decade, making equity valuations look lofty particularly for major tech companies which have borne the brunt of the sell-off.
On Wednesday, 10-year Treasury yields US10YT=TWEB rose as high as 1.746% from Tuesday's 1.708%.
Analysts at Blackrock (NYSE:BLK) said they still liked tech stocks.
"Tech is a diverse sector and the driver of higher yields matters more than the rise itself," Blackrock said in a note to clients.
"Our new nominal theme implies central banks will be slower to raise rates to curb inflation than in the past, supporting our pro-risk stance and preference for tech."
Over a 6-12 month period, Blackrock is "overweight" equities and "underweight" U.S. Treasuries, expecting a nominal increase in yields.
"The 'term premium tantrum' mostly reflects investors requiring higher compensation for the now greater risks to portfolios presented by government bonds and inflation, in our view," Blackrock said.
"This makes equities even more appealing than bonds in a multi-asset context – and suggests any further sell-offs in tech may present opportunities."
Sentiment in Asia remained downbeat despite data showing China's factory activity expanded at a faster-than-expected pace in March while the country's services sector surged too. shares started in the red and deepened their losses, with the blue-chip index .CSI300 off 0.9%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index .HSI slipped 0.4%.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 slid 0.9% as the country's industrial output fell in February due to declines in the production of cars and electrical machinery. benchmark index .AXJO bucked the trend to be up 0.8% while New Zealand .NZ50 rose 0.9%.
In foreign exchange markets, currencies were mostly a sea of red against the U.S. dollar which hit a one-year high of 110.48 against the yen as investors bet that massive fiscal stimulus and aggressive vaccinations will boost the U.S. economic recovery. FRX/ JPY=
The dollar is on track for a third straight monthly rise against the yen and its biggest since end-2016.
The dollar index =USD held above 93 after surging as high as 93.357 on Tuesday. It has climbed from close to 90 at the start of March, on course for its best month since 2016.
In commodities, Brent crude LCOc1 rose 64 cents to $64.78 a barrel while U.S. crude CLc1 added 57 cents to $61.12 barrel.
Gold prices rose a touch to 1,686.2 an ounce.
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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
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