Asian shares are higher on Monday, though sentiment was still cautious ahead of a U.S. Presidential debate and as a spike in new coronavirus cases undermined global economic recovery hopes.
Asian Shares
- MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 0.5% to 550.47, but still within striking distance of a two-month low of 543.66 hit last week.
- Elsewhere, Japan’s Nikkei was 0.75% higher, partly on a lower yen.
- South Korea’s KOSPI index gained 1.1%.
Currencies
- In currencies, the dollar eased from a near a two-week high against the Japanese yen to 105.44.
- The euro was last at $1.1628, not far from a two-month trough of $.1611 touched on Friday.
- The British pound rose 0.1% to $1.2760.
- The risk sensitive Australian dollar was slightly firmer at $0.7052
Commodities
- U.S. Brent crude slipped 18 cents to $41.74 a barrel while U.S. light crude was down 19 cents at $40.06.
- Gold was a shade higher at $1,861.8, still some way off an all-time peak of above $2,000 an ounce touched in August.