Asian shares inched up in subdued trade on Thursday after Wall Street ended higher, but political uncertainty in the United States and worries about weakening global economic growth kept many investors on the sidelines.
Stocks
- MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (MIAPJ0000PUS) added 0.3 percent.
- Australian shares (AXJO) were flat.
- Shanghai Composite (SSEC) and the blue-chip CSI 300 (CSI300) climbed 0.5 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.
Currencies
- The dollar was last off 0.1 percent against the yen.
- The euro (EUR=) was basically flat at $1.1383.
- Sterling hit a fresh 11-week high against the dollar, rising to $1.3094.
- The Australian dollar gave up early gains, last trading 0.1 percent lower at $0.7168.
Commodities
- U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures (CLc1) fell 31 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $52.38 a barrel.
- Brent crude futures (LCOc1) were last down 34 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $60.87.
- Spot gold was traded at $1282.10 per ounce.
Bonds
- The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes (US10YT=RR) fell to 2.746 percent.
