GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia futures mixed as gold prices hold near record peak

* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

By Chris Prentice
WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Asia futures were mixed on
Wednesday and gold traded mixed, after U.S. and European
equities gained overnight on strong earnings results.
Hong Kong futures HSIc1 were 0.01% lower, while Nikkei
futures NKc1 were trading slightly above the Nikkei 225
index's .N225 previous close and Australian shares were set to
track Wall Street higher. Spot gold XAU= held near a fresh record set on Wednesday
with a boost from a weaker U.S. dollar and stimulus
expectations.
Prices are up about 34% this year.
"Low rates of interest just increase the attractiveness of
real assets," David de Garis, director of economics at National
Australia Bank, said on the bank's morning podcast.
On Wall Street, Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose
1.4%, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite
.IXIC added 0.5%, posting a new record peak and closing high.
A surprise quarterly profit from Walt Disney Co DIS.N and
a slate of upbeat results from healthcare companies lifted
sentiment on Wall Street.
A group of Senate Republicans on Wednesday backed extending
a $25 billion payroll assistance program for U.S. airlines,
according to a letter seen by Reuters, lifting airline stocks.
In Europe, the broad FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 closed
up 0.3% at 1,417.05, on support from gains across London-listed
mining groups Rio Tinto RIO.L , BHP Group BPPB.L and Glencore
GLEN.L .
U.S. shares also saw support from expectations of more
coronavirus spending, but later in the day Washington leaders
appeared to harden their stances.
The House Speaker said Democrats were determined to reach an
agreement on a legislative package but only if it met the needs
of Americans. The White House chief of staff said he will meet
with Democratic leaders on Thursday evening, although he
cautioned the two sides are still trillions of dollars apart in
talks. The dollar extended losses after U.S. private payrolls
growth slowed sharply in July, pointing to a loss of momentum in
economic recovery as new COVID-19 infections spread across the
United States. Oil prices LCOc1 rose to March highs after inventories
fell sharply and the dollar weakened.
Treasury yields steepened on the prospect of increased
supply in longer-dated debt after the Treasury Department said
it would borrow more in the third quarter than previously
anticipated. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tracking the spread of the novel coronavirus https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-HEALTH-MAP/0100B59S39E/index.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>