INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
SYDNEY: Asian shares drifted off in sleepy trade on Friday, while the dollar held around two-year highs on speculation that figures later in
the day will show the U.S
economy outperforming the rest of the developed world.
The euro was off 1 percent for the week at $1.1133 as euro zone economic figures
continued to disappoint.
Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was 0.8 percent firmer for the week so far at 98.145 having touched its
highest since May 2017.
"The dollar will remain bid in this environment while data continues to look more favourable from the U.S.,
especially with regard to the EU," said Nick Twidale, head of operations at broker Rakuten Securities.
"Tonight's U.S
GDP print could be crucial from a technical point of view
If we see a good number it will probably see the euro targeting the key psychological level of $1.1000."
The yen proved an outlier by
gaining as speculators cut short positions ahead of holidays which will see most Japanese markets shut for six whole trading days.
The
exceptionally long break has investors concerned there could be another "flash crash" like the one in early January that drove the yen
massively higher in a matter of minutes.
The dollar was flat at 111.61 yen, after shedding 0.5 percent overnight, but was buoyed elsewhere
durable goods orders.
The rise in the yen and soft Japanese industrial data nudged the Nikkei down 0.7 percent, while China blue chips
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.2 percent, while E-Mini futures for the SP 500 lost 0.1 percent.
The
mood might lighten later should data on U.S
gross domestic product (GDP) prove as upbeat as some now expect.
A string of solid numbers has led analysts to revise up their forecasts for
growth and the latest median polled by Reuters is for an annualised 2.0 percent.
The closely-watched estimate of GDP from the Atlanta
Federal Reserve is projecting an outcome of 2.7 percent, a huge turnaround from a few weeks ago when it was at 0.5 percent.
TOO LITTLE
INFLATIONYet the rebound has not been mirrored in inflation, which remains subdued across much of the developed world, prompting a host of
central banks to turn dovish.
Just this week central banks in Sweden and Canada have backed off plans to tighten, while the Bank of Japan
tried to dispel doubts about its accommodative stance by pledging to keep rates at super-low levels for at least one more year.
European
Central Bank Vice-President Luis de Guindos on Thursday opened the door to more money-printing if needed to boost inflation in the euro
zone.
Rate cuts look much likelier in Australia and New Zealand after recent disappointingly weak inflation reports.
The Federal Reserve
holds a policy meeting next week and is expected to reaffirm its patient stance
A Reuters poll of analysts out Thursday found most believed the Fed was done with tightening altogether.
Wall Street had ended Thursday
mixed after a raft of earnings reports
The Dow fell 0.51 percent, while the SP 500 lost 0.04 percent and the Nasdaq added 0.21 percent.
Amazon.com Inc shares firmed after the
market closed as the company reported a first-quarter profit that topped estimates.
Shares of Facebook Inc and Microsoft Corp both jumped on
their results, but Intel Corp fell sharply after downgrading revenue forecasts.
In commodity markets, spot gold was idling at $1,280.12 per
ounce.
Brent crude ran into profit-taking after hitting $75 per barrel on Thursday for the first time in nearly six months following the
suspension of some Russian crude exports to Europe.
Brent crude futures lost 21 cents to $74.14 a barrel, while U.S
crude was last down 37 cents at $64.84 a barrel.