💙 🔷 Not impressed by Big Tech in Q3? Explore these Blue Chip Bargains insteadExplore for free

GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares struggle as European woes, Saudi concerns dim mood

Published 2018-10-22, 09:01 p/m
© Reuters.  GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares struggle as European woes, Saudi concerns dim mood
EUR/USD
-
USD/JPY
-
US500
-
FCHI
-
ES35
-
JP225
-
ESU24
-
CL
-
MIAPJ0000PUS
-

* Asian shares down 0.4 pct, U.S. stock futures shed 0.5 pct

* World leaders not impressed with Saudi Arabia's narrative

* European stocks hit by worries over Italy's budget

By Hideyuki Sano

TOKYO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Asian shares edged lower on Tuesday as earnings season nerves in the U.S. dented Wall Street, while a cocktail of negative factors from Saudi Arabia's diplomatic isolation to concerns over Italy's budget and Brexit talks depressed sentiment.

That rolled back some of the previous session's strong rally led by China stimulus hopes, with the MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS dropping 0.4 percent. Japan's Nikkei .N225 fell 1.25 percent.

U.S. stock futures ESc1 dropped 0.5 percent in early Asian trade. On Monday the S&P 500 .SPX lost 0.43 percent as investors kept a wary eye on earnings amid global growth worries. Enthusiasm over some of the upbeat results was also tempered by the growing political uncertainty around the world.

"In short, the world seems to be getting into a chaos," said Akira Takei, bond fund manager at Asset Management One.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he was still not satisfied with what he has heard from Saudi Arabia about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at its consulate in Turkey. has expressed reluctance to punish the Saudis economically. But while Saudi Arabia has sought to shield its powerful crown prince from the killing, many officials have cast doubt on Riyadh's narrative. countries, including Germany, Britain, France and Turkey, have pressed Saudi Arabia to provide all the facts. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he will release information about the investigation in a speech on Tuesday.

Any signs of instability in the kingdom, a major oil producer as well as a big investor in financial markets, could have wide-ranging repercussions.

"I would think this issue could drag on for some time," said Asset Management One's Takei.

In Europe, the European Commision will decide on Tuesday the next steps in the procedure for assessing Italy's 2019 draft budget, which has come in for sharp criticism from the EU as it breached its rules.

The euro traded at $1.1466 EUR= , having lost 0.44 percent the previous day to edge near its Oct. 9 low of $1.14325, its lowest level since mid-August.

Although Italian bond prices rose on relief after Moody's did not slap on a negative outlook as the market had feared, investor concerns were palpable in European stock markets.

France's CAC .FCHI closed at the lowest level in more than a year while Italian shares .MIBTEL hit 1-1/2-year lows and Spanish shares .IBEX ended at their weakest level since late 2016.

The British pound GBP=D4 stood at $1.2965, hovering just above this month's low of $1.2922 on fears the Irish border issue and disagreements within Britain's ruling Conservatives over Brexit could see Prime Minister Theresa May face a serious leadership challenge.

The yen JPY= eased to 112.82 per dollar, touching its lowest levels in about two weeks.

Oil prices were little changed, with WTI CLc1 trading at $69.86 per barrel, up 0.2 percent and off two-month low of $68.27 touched on Monday. (Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.