Asian shares fall Thursday as fresh outbreaks overshadow vaccine progress

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.

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