Asian markets pull back as hopes fade for U.S. stimulus

Asian markets slipped on Tuesday as investors adjusted risk exposure heading into the U.S. election and ahead of a deadline for Washington to pass an economic stimulus bill, while Europe reported record daily coronavirus infections.

Asian Shares

• Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 NIK, -0.44% declined 0.3% in morning trading.
•  South Korea’s Kospi 180721, +0.49% slipped 0.2%.
• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.71% fell nearly 0.3%.
• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng HSI, 0.06% inched down less than 0.1%,
• The Shanghai Composite SHCOMP, +0.46% slipped 0.3%.
• Benchmark indexes in Taiwan Y9999, -0.35%,
•  Singapore STI, -0.44% and Indonesia JAKIDX, -0.73% fell.

Oil Prices

• U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures fell 0.6% to $40.57 a barrel.
• Brent crude LCOc1 futures dipped 0.8% to $42.26 a barrel.

Currency Markets

• Greenback moves, however, were modest with the dollar index =USD 0.039% lower on Tuesday.
• The dollar rose 0.14% against the yen to 105.52.
• The euro was up 0.09% to $1.1776.