Asian shares were little changed in muted trading Monday amid widespread uncertainty over what the U.S. presidential election will portend for markets and economic policy.
Asian shares
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MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan inched up 0.1%, still short of its recent 31-month peak.
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Japan’s Nikkei dithered either side of steady.
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South Korea’s main index lost 0.3%.
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Chinese blue chips shed 0.5% as the country’s leaders met to chart the nation’s economic course for 2021-2025, balancing growth with reforms amid an uncertain global outlook and deepening tensions with the United States.
Currency Markets
- The euro was holding at $1.1836 and just under its recent top of $1.1880.
- The dollar was pinned at 104.86 yen and not far from last week’s trough of 104.32.
- The dollar index was a fraction firmer at 92.904, after shedding almost 1% last week.
Commodities
- In commodity markets, gold edged down 0.1% to $1,898 an ounce.
- Oil prices fell further in anticipation of a surge in Libyan crude supply and demand concerns caused by surging coronavirus cases in the United States and Europe.
- Brent crude futures lost 73 cents to $41.04 a barrel, while U.S. crude also fell 73 cents to $39.12.