Asian shares made a muted start as caution gripped ahead of a critical reading on US inflation, while the euro gained on the yen amid wagers the ECB will take a major step toward policy tightening
The swing in sentiment left the dollar wallowing at one-month lows, with the euro rising to its highest since April 25
The US Federal Reserve has begun raising interest rates to counter surging inflation and investors have been selling yen to seek higher returns in dollar-denominated assets
Asian markets including Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia are on holiday on Friday for Easter, as are major European and U.S. markets.
Minutes of the Fed's March 15-16 meeting released Wednesday, showed deepening concern among policymakers that inflation had broadened through the economy.
There has been a marked shift in the language of some of the region's less hawkish central banks on worries the renewed surge in commodity costs
By Daniel Leussink
Shares fell Tuesday in Asia and oil prices advanced after a tech-driven rally on Wall Street. Trading was light with many regional markets including those in China closed for holidays. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index edged 0.1% lower to 27,705.25 and the Kospi in Seoul also fell 0.1%, to 2,755.36. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.7% to 7,565.80. Malaysia fell while Singapore gained. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has elevated concerns about rising inflation and the impact on global economic growth. Prices for everything from food to clothing were already rising and the war has added to volatility for energy prices. The World Bank has downgraded its 2022 growth forecast for the Asia-Pacific region to 5% from 5.4%, in part due to disruptions to supplies of commodities, financial strains and higher prices. That follows a rebound to 7.2% growth in 2021 after many economies experienced downturns with the onset of the pandemic. The report forecasts slower growth and rising poverty in the Asia-Pacific
Japanese shares led gains in Asian stocks on Tuesday as the Bank of Japan defended its ultra-easy stance, while oil slid on fears of lower demand from China as Shanghai applied a "zero-COVID" strategy
Asian shares faltered and oil prices slid on Monday as a coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai hit economic activity, while the yen extended its stomach-churning descent
Asian shares stalled and oil prices slid on Monday as coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai looked set to hit global activity, while throwing another wrench into supply chains
Asian shares were mostly higher Tuesday as investors eyed the war in Ukraine, inflationary risks and surging energy prices.
Asian shares advanced and oil slipped on Monday on hopes for progress in Russian-Ukraine peace talks even as fighting raged on
Asian shares extended a global slump on Friday after the fastest US inflation in four decades and a hawkish European Central Bank (ECB) bolstered expectations for more aggressive rate hikes
Asian shares surged on Thursday, tracking Wall Street's gains as planned diplomatic talks between Russia-Ukraine buoyed sentiment, but analysts warned the rally could be susceptible to sharp reversal
Asian shares mostly rose Tuesday as global investors eyed talks aimed at ending the Russian military assault on Ukraine, which so far have yielded just an agreement to keep talking
Asian stock markets retreated on Thursday after Russian media reported that rebels in eastern Ukraine had accused Kyiv government forces of using mortars to attack their territory.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.76%, with most markets in the red, though a resurgence in property stocks helped greater China markets
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Asian shares plunged to their lowest in nearly 15 months, short-term U.S. yields hit 23-month highs and the dollar strengthened on Thursday after the Federal Reserve's chairman signalled plans to steadily tighten policy.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.26% early on Wednesday, but the index has skidded 2.4% this year, and is testing mid-December's one-year low