Asian shares were mostly higher Tuesday, after European stocks rallied and U.S. markets were closed for the Labor Day national holiday.
Investors are focusing on uncertainties over the coronavirus pandemic and hopes for a vaccine. Attention is now on how Wall Street might pick up after the holiday break, given the decline that came last week after months of surging prices.
Asian Shares
- Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.6% in morning trading to 23,222.31.
- Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.7% to 5,986.90.
- South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.8% to 2,403.53.
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was little changed, inching up less than 0.1% to 24,599.49.
- The Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2% to 3,286.01.
Currency Prices
- The dollar inched down to 106.23 Japanese yen from 106.27 yen.
- The euro fell to $1.1805 from $1.1817.
Bonds
- The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined one basis point to 0.71%.
- The yield on two-year Treasuries decreased less than one basis point to 0.14%.
- Germany’s 10-year yield advanced one basis point to -0.46%.
- Britain’s 10-year yield sank two basis points to 0.248%.
- Japan’s 10-year yield decreased less than one basis point to 0.039%.
Commodities
- West Texas Intermediate crude declined 1.8% to $38.81 a barrel.
- Brent crude dipped 1.4% to $41.74 a barrel.
- Gold weakened 0.1% to $1,931.60 an ounce.
