{"id":108351,"date":"2021-03-02T01:34:56","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T01:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=108351"},"modified":"2021-03-02T01:34:56","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T01:34:56","slug":"asian-shares-rise-as-risk-assets-shine-australian-central-bank-eyed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/markets\/asian-shares-rise-as-risk-assets-shine-australian-central-bank-eyed\/","title":{"rendered":"Asian shares rise as risk assets shine, Australian central bank eyed"},"content":{"rendered":"
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Asian shares are poised to rally on Tuesday as a halt in a recent bond markets sell-off calmed investor nerves and lifted riskier assets, although oil prices were on the defensive on fears of slowing Chinese energy consumption.<\/p> Australian shares jumped 0.8% in early trade, while E-mini S&P futures climbed 0.15%. Japan\u2019s Nikkei opened 0.93% higher.<\/p>\n U.S. stocks [.N] had surged overnight, with the S&P 500 posting its best day in nearly nine months, after a retreat in bond yields and optimism about more U.S. fiscal stimulus and a wider distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine whetted investor appetites for risk.<\/p>\n For now, all eyes will be on Australia\u2019s central bank, which holds its monthly policy meeting on Tuesday. Analysts expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to hold key rates at a historic low of 0.1% when it announces its policy decision at 0330 GMT.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s everything to like about the rally in EU and U.S. equity markets,\u201d said Chris Weston, the head of research at Pepperstone Group Ltd in Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cFinancials outperformed, with 95% of stocks in the S&P 500 gaining on the day,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cclearly investors are seeing the world in a new light\u201d.<\/p>\n U.S. stocks were roiled last week when a sell-off in Treasuries pushed the 10-year Treasury yield to a one-year high of 1.614%. The 10-year yield was edging lower in early trade at 1.4255%. [US\/]<\/p>\n Demand for riskier assets did not slug the dollar, usually regarded as a safe-haven currency, as investors bet on fast growth and inflation in the United States. The U.S. dollar index gained 0.3% in early trade against a basket of currencies to stand at 91.029, within sight of a three-week high hit overnight. [USD\/]<\/p>\n The Australian dollar was little changed at $0.77685 ahead of the RBA meeting.<\/p>\n A stronger dollar weighed on gold, and the precious metal was on the defensive at $1,722.8879 an ounce early Tuesday. [GOL\/]<\/p>\n The exuberance in risk assets did not help energy markets. Oil prices fell more than 1% overnight after data showed China\u2019s factory activity growth slipped to a nine-month low in February, owing in part to disruptions over the Lunar New Year holiday. There were also fears among energy investors that OPEC may increase global supply following a meeting this week. [O\/R]<\/p>\n Brent crude fell 1.7% to $63.31 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost 0.6% to $60.3.<\/p>\n