STOCKS NEWS ASIA-Markets knocked by U.S. worries
Asian stock markets fell on Thursday with exporters such as Canon Inc. (7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research) hit by renewed inflation worries in the United States, Asias biggest export market.
Data showing U.S. labour costs had risen more robustly this year than first thought reignited concerns that the Federal Reserve may have to resume raising interest rates again to fight inflation.
At 0020 GMT, Tokyos Nikkei average < .N225> had fallen 1.19 percent to near one-week lows as top casual wear chain Fast Retailing (9983.T: Quote, Profile, Research) slid 1.55 percent, Advantest Corp. (6857.T: Quote, Profile, Research) shed 1.47 percent and Canon slipped 1.78 percent.
More : today.reuters.com
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Asia stocks to focus on oil, Fed meeting
Lower oil prices may help underpin Asian stock markets this week as worries about inflation ease, but further direction is expected to come from the outcome of the Federal Reserves policy-setting meeting.
The U.S. central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday following recent evidence of slower U.S. growth, while investors will be on the look-out for clues to future rate moves.
Still, worries about slower global growth mean any market gains may be limited, some analysts say.
More : za.today.reuters.com
Markets dragged down by tech stocks
Asian technology stocks , such as South Koreas Samsung Electronics, fell on Tuesday in line with their U.S. peers as earnings worries grew after a profit warning from U.S. data storage equipment maker EMC Corp. (EMC.N: Quote, Profile, Research).
A drop in oil prices also weighed on energy stocks such as Australias Woodside Petroleum (WPL.AX: Quote, Profile, Research). U.S. crude was at $73.45 in early Asian trade, down from the record peak of $75.78 set on Friday.
By 0020 GMT, Tokyos Nikkei average < .N225> had lost 0.61 percent, due partly to falls of
STOCKS NEWS ASIA-Markets drop as higher fuel hits sentiment
Asian shares fell on Wednesday, with exporters such as Canon Inc. (7751.T: Quote, Profile, Research) down on concerns over slower consumer spending in the United States while the worlds top miner BHP (BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) lost on a decline in base metal prices.
Its more jitters about the high oil prices, its impact on consumer spending, inflation and business profits. That is the overriding concern in the market, said Craig James, chief equities economist with Commonwealth Securities.
U.S. crude for July delivery stayed closed to $72 a barrel on Wednesday,
Mixed 2006 start in Asia
Korean stocks gain 0.7%, but Taiwan index is 1.3% lower in year's 1st session; Japan markets closed.
If the first day of trade in 2006 is a harbinger in Asia, expect a year of growing political tension, worsening inflation and volatile markets that continue on an upward march - but perhaps not the rocket- like path seen in the latter half of 2005.
In the first day of trading in the new year, shares in Korea and Taiwan, the only two major regional markets open Monday, moved in opposite directions in an otherwise thinly-traded session.
Japanese markets were closed
Currencies dip in Asia on export fall worries
Asian currencies weakened, paced by Indonesias rupiah and the Philippine peso, on speculation investors will sell emerging-market assets as US growth slows. A report on Thursday on Philadelphia manufacturing provided further evidence a two-year cycle of interest-rate increases is cooling the US economy.
Asian exports may suffer on a decline in consumer demand in the US, one of the regions biggest overseas markets.
The rupiah posted the worst week in a month, while the peso snapped a three-week rally.
A lot of money has gone into Asian and Latin American markets and now
