* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Ex-Asia stocks ease after 10 sessions of gains
* Fed cautious on economy, ready to take further action
* Bonds rally as Fed mulls yield curve control, guidance
* Dollar just above three-month lows on dovish outlook
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, June 11 (Reuters) - Asian shares swung lower on
Thursday while bonds rallied after a downbeat economic outlook
from the U.S. Federal Reserve stoked speculation it would have
to add to already historic levels of stimulus to underpin a
recovery.
After a slow start, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific
shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS slipped 1.1%, potentially
putting an end to a 10-session winning streak.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 slid 2.1% as the yen firmed, though
Chinese blue chips .CSI300 managed to hold steady.
E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 fell 1.1%, while
EUROSTOXX 50 futures STXEc1 lost 2.2% and FTSE futures FFIc1
1.6%.
In a challenge to the stock market's recent optimism, the
Fed predicted the U.S. economy would shrink 6.5% in 2020 and
unemployment would still be at 9.3% at year's end. Data out earlier had also shown core U.S. consumer prices
fell for a third straight month in May, the longest stretch of
declines on record.
As a result, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said he was "not even
thinking about thinking about raising rates". Instead, he
emphasised recovery would be a long road and that policy would
have to be proactive with rates near zero out to 2022.
"While Powell did not commit to any new action at this time,
his focus on downside risk and uncertainty reinforces the
message that they will take further action, probably by
September," was the take of economists at JPMorgan.
"Outcome or calendar based guidance looks likely and Powell
left the door open for moving to some form of interest rate
caps."
Powell confirmed the Fed was studying yield curve control, a
form of easing already employed by Japan and Australia.
All of which, saw yields on 10-year Treasuries US10YT=RR
fall 9 basis points on Wednesday, the biggest daily drop in
almost two months. Yields were down at 0.71% on Thursday, a
sharp rally from last week's peak of 0.96%. US/
The risk of more easing initially had the U.S. dollar under
pressure, seeing it touch a three-month low on a basket of
currencies at 95.714 =USD .
"The Fed's view – that you'll be paid almost nothing for
holding U.S. dollars until at least 2022 – is never going to be
helpful for any currency," noted analysts at CBA.
The dollar later steadied as risk appetite waned and stocks
came off. It was last at 107.03 yen JPY= , after hitting a
one-month trough at 106.87.
The euro edged back to $1.1346 EUR= having hit its highest
since mid-March on Wednesday at $1.1422.
The prospect of super-low rates for longer was a boon for
gold overnight, leaving it at $1,731 an ounce XAU= . GOL/
Oil prices turned lower after U.S. data showed crude
inventories had risen to record highs. O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 futures fell $1.18 to $40.55 a barrel,
while U.S. crude CLc1 lost $1.32 to $38.28.
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(Editing by Sam & Shri Navaratnam)