Asian shares followed Wall Street’s sharp selloff on Thursday as concerns about rising coronavirus infections and new shutdowns in major U.S. cities hosed down earlier investor enthusiasm about COVID-19 vaccine developments.
Asian Shares
- Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.5% in early trading.
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures lost 0.02%.
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.4%.
Currency
- The dollar index fell 0.043%.
- The euro down 0.05% to $1.1855.
Bonds
- U.S. Treasury yields reversed early declines on optimism about a potential vaccine and after a weak 20-year bond auction diminished the appeal of the safe-haven debt.
- Benchmark 10-year notes last fell 1/32 in price to yield 0.875%, from 0.872% late on Tuesday.
Oil Prices
- Oil prices advanced as the vaccine news buoyed investor appetite, along with hopes OPEC and its allies will delay a planned increase in oil output.
- U.S. crude settled up 0.94% at $41.82 per barrel and Brent was at $44.34, up 1.35% on the day.