TOKYO, Feb 19 ― Asian shares and US stock futures edged cautiously higher today, as investors tried to shake off worries about the coronavirus epidemic after a slight decline in the number of new cases.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eked out a minor 0.03 per cent gain but spent much of the morning session bouncing between gains and losses.
Chinese shares erased early declines to trade 0.15 per cent higher. Australian shares were up 0.02 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.5 per cent.
The euro languished at a three-year low versus the dollar as disappointing data from Germany, Europe's largest economy, has stoked fears that the euro zone is more vulnerable to external shocks than previously thought.
The Treasury curve remained inverted today as yields on three-month bills traded above yields on 10-year notes in a sign that some investors remain cautious about the outlook.
China, the world's second-largest economy, is still struggling to get its manufacturing sector back online after imposing severe travel restrictions to contain a virus that emerged in the central Chinese province of Hubei late last year.
Many investors view Chinese data on the virus, dubbed SARS-CoV-2, with a great deal of scepticism, but there are hopes that officials will roll out more stimulus to support the world's second-largest economy.
"Part of the thinking that is supporting markets is the actions that China takes to support its economy," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney. "Any investor concern around impact on demand globally from the virus will be offset by expectations that global central banks will ride to the rescue."
US stock futures rose 0.18 per cent in Asia today. The S&P 500 fell 0.29 per cent yesterday after Apple Inc said it would miss sales targets because the virus in China is pressuring its supply chain.
Mainland China had 1,749 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections yesterday, the country's National Health Commission said today, down from 1,886 cases a day earlier and the lowest since January 29.
The death toll in China has topped more than 2,000 from the flu-like illness which has already spread to 24 other countries.
The People's Bank of China cut the interest rate on its medium-term lending on Monday, which is expected to pave the way for a reduction in the country's benchmark loan prime rate tomorrow, as policymakers try to ease financial strains caused by the virus.
In the currency market, the euro was quoted at US$1.0804 (RM4.4935). The common currency managed to reclaim the closely-watched US$1.08 level which it broke through today but was still close to its lowest since April 2017.
Sentiment remained weak after a survey showed a sharp deterioration in German investor sentiment due to the coronavirus.
In the onshore market, the yuan briefly fell to a two-week low of 7.0136 per dollar as traders continued to ponder the economic impact of the virus and the chance for more monetary easing.
The yield on three-month Treasury bills stood at 1.5770 per cent in Asia today, above the 10-year Treasury yield of 1.5610 per cent.
A yield curve inverts when short-term yields trade above long-term yields and is often considered a sign of recession in the next year or two.
US crude rose 0.21 per cent to US$52.16 a barrel, while Brent crude rose 0.12 per cent to US$57.87 per barrel as a reduction in supply from Libya offset concerns about weaker Chinese demand for commodities.
Expectations that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and allied producers including Russia will cut output further should lend support to prices.
The group, known as Opec+, will meet in Vienna on March 6. ― Reuters
