GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian stocks dip to 1-week lows as infection fears curb vaccine optimism

* U.S. begins to roll-out vaccines
* Market worried by rise in infections, lockdowns
* China Nov industrial data in line with forecasts
* British pound lifted by extension of Brexit talks
* Asia stock markets this year: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

By Anshuman Daga
SINGAPORE, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Asian stocks retreated on
Tuesday as worries about increasing COVID-19 deaths and
lockdowns overshadowed optimism about the roll-out of
coronavirus vaccinations, just days after indexes hit record
highs.
EUROSTOXX 50 futures STXEc1 dipped 0.4% and FTSE futures
FFIc1 fell 0.6%, indicating a weaker open for European stock
markets. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 were up 0.05%.
Markets showed little reaction to China's industrial
output, which grew in line with expectations in November,
expanding for an eighth straight month as an economic recovery
gathered pace. The number of coronavirus deaths in the United States
crossed 300,000 on Monday as the hardest hit nation started its
first vaccine inoculations, while tighter COVID-19 restrictions
were imposed on London. "While investors can approach 2021 with optimism that an
effective COVID-19 vaccine will be available, the path of the
economic recovery remains unclear," Allianz Global Investors
said in a report.
Most Asian markets retreated, with MSCI's index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS falling 0.6%
to 637.8, the lowest in more than a week after having hit a
string of record highs in recent weeks.
Chinese stocks .CSI300 eased 0.3% and Hong Kong .HSI
lost 0.9%.
Markets in Japan and South Korea, both grappling with
surging infection numbers and growing public frustration,
slipped 0.4% and 0.5%.
Australian stocks fell 0.4% .AXJO , pulled down by
heavyweight miners on fears of higher regulatory scrutiny over
surging iron ore prices in top consumer, China.
News of vaccines has powered gains in the last few months,
with the Asian benchmark up nearly 16% so far this year, sitting
just shy of a record struck last week. The rally has been led by
markets in South Korea, China and Taiwan.
Last week, the United States authorised the emergency use of
its first COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
The vaccine has already been authorised in a handful of
countries including Britain and Canada.
"We now know we are building a bridge to somewhere,
providing clarity for policymakers, households and companies
about getting to a post COVID stage," strategists at BlackRock
Investment Institute said in a report.
"Yet disappointing jobs data in recent weeks pointed to near
term risks as the virus surges around the U.S., potentially
slowing the restart," they said.
On Monday, the S&P 500 .SPX closed down 0.4%, the Nasdaq
Composite .IXIC gained 0.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial
Average hit a record high but fell back 0.6% for the day.
In foreign exchange markets, the British pound was firm
against the dollar at $1.3332 GBP=D4 , after rising 0.8% on
Monday as the UK and Europe agreed to continue Brexit talks.
It reached a 2 1/2-year high of $1.3540 earlier
this month.
The dollar traded near 2-1/2-year lows against major peers
as demand for the safest assets flagged. USD/
U.S. Treasury yields US10YT=RR were relatively stable
ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting on
Tuesday. Market expectations are growing that the Fed will further
ease monetary policy by expanding its bond buying programme, as
U.S. lawmakers struggle to agree on a fiscal stimulus package.
The Bank of England and the Bank of Japan also close out
their 2020 meetings this week.
Gold prices XAU= advanced 0.5% to $1,835.9 per ounce.
Oil prices CLc1 dipped 0.7% to $46.6 a barrel as
persistent oversupply largely offset hopes that a rollout of
coronavirus vaccines will lift global fuel demand. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Global assets http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
Global currencies vs. dollar http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
Emerging markets http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV
MSCI All Country World Index Market Cap http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
Asia stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>