* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Asia ex-Japan off record high after Wall St pullback
* Tokyo raises pandemic alert level, Nikkei slips
* Economic restrictions in U.S. suggest more Fed action
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Asian shares drifted off all-time
highs on Thursday as widening COVID-19 restrictions in the
United states weighed on Wall Street, while bonds were
underpinned by speculation the Federal Reserve would have to
respond with yet more easing.
Japan also reported record news cases as Tokyo raised its
pandemic alert to the highest level, shoving the Nikkei .N225
down 0.8% and away from a 29-year closing top. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS fell 0.6%, off their historic high. Chinese blue
chips .CSI300 added 0.4% as President Xi Jinping vowed to cut
tariffs and expand imports of high-quality goods and services.
E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 steadied after Wall
Street took a late dip on Wednesday. The Dow .DJI ended down
1.16%, while the S&P 500 .SPX lost 1.16% and the Nasdaq
.IXIC 0.82%.
Pfizer Inc PFE.N shares had gained after the drugmaker
said its COVID-19 vaccine was 95% effective and it would apply
for emergency U.S. authorization within days. Pfizer's announcement came on the heels of a similar report
from Moderna Inc MRNA.O . Yet, the U.S. death toll still neared a world record of a
quarter million as government officials in dozens of states
weighed or implemented shutdown measures. New York closed its schools on Wednesday, while Minnesota
ordered bars and restaurants to cease in-door dining.
"The vaccines news are a positive medium-term impulse for
the global economic outlook and investors are trying to weigh
that against the prospect of an imminent stalling of the
European and U.S. recovery amid the prospect of extensions of
current lockdown measures," said Rodrigo Catril, a senior FX
strategist at NAB.
FORCING THE FED
The drag from new U.S. restrictions was only amplified by
the total lack of progress on a fiscal stimulus bill, fuelling
speculation the Federal Reserve would have to expand its
asset-buying campaign at a December policy meeting.
Two top Fed officials on Wednesday held out the option of
doing more. The chance of further easing has helped nudge 10-year
Treasury yields down to 0.85% US10YT=RR and away from an
eight-month top of 0.975% touched last week. US/
It has also weighed on the dollar, which slipped for five
sessions in a row before steadying a little on Thursday. Against
a basket of currencies it was last at 92.477 =USD , still close
to recent lows of 92.129.
The dollar has likewise been in a slow decline against the
Japanese yen to reach 103.72 JPY= and was approaching the
recent eight-month trough at 103.16.
The euro has had pandemic problems of its own as lockdowns
spread across the continent, keeping it capped at $1.1844 EUR=
and short of the recent peak of $1.1919.
Sterling dipped to $1.3230 GBP=D3 as Brexit talks dragged
on. The Times reported Europe's leaders would demand the
European Commission publish no-deal plans as the deadline
neared. Bitcoin BTC=BTSP , sometimes regarded as a safe haven or at
least a hedge against inflation, rose to more than $18,000 for
the first time in nearly three years. It last stood at $17,808.
All the talk of policy easing put a floor under gold prices,
leaving the metal steady at $1,868 an ounce XAU= .
Oil prices eased as virus restrictions hit fuel demand
across Europe and the U.S. O/R
U.S. crude CLc1 fell 35 cents to $41.47 a barrel, while
Brent crude LCOc1 futures lost 23 cents to $44.11.
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