* Investors hope for positive outlook from U.S. firms on
earnings
* China rally extends, CSI300 hits 5-yr high while yuan
gains
* Gold steady above $1,800/oz
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
By Tom Westbrook and John McCrank
SINGAPORE/NEW YORK, July 9 (Reuters) - Asian equity markets
ground higher as investors tried to look past gathering
Sino-U.S. tension and renewed coronavirus lockdowns to upcoming
company earnings, hoping that global stimulus efforts will yield
upbeat outlooks.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.6% and touched a 20-week high as Chinese
stocks extended their extraordinary rally.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 edged ahead by 0.2%.
The Chinese yuan CNH=D3 rose to a four-month high of
6.9872 per dollar and the greenback sat near a one-month low
against a basket of currencies =USD .DXY . FRX/
China was hit first and so is emerging first from the
COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, fiscal stimulus, heavy
government borrowing driving up bond yields, and a state-media
editorial extolling strong fundamentals have stoked euphoria.
"The yuan has a perfect combination for a currency -
relatively tight monetary policy; yield spreads moving in favour
of the currency and equity prices also rising more than most,"
said Deutsche Bank's chief international strategist, Alan
Ruskin.
"Even before we think of COVID-19 virus divergence
indicators, there are enough money and related financial
indicators consistent with a dollar/yuan below 7," he said.
China's blue-chip index .CSI300 rose for an eighth
straight session in early trade on Thursday, gaining 0.6% to
touch a five-year high. The Shanghai Composite .SSEC was up by
the same margin and at its highest level since early 2018.
Both have added about 15% this month, and the rally
continued in spite of a more circumspect take in Chinese media,
which carried a commentary reminding investors about the 2015
crash and suggesting a rational approach to risk-taking.
The mood lifted Australia's S&P/ASX 200 .AXJO 1%, though
New Zealand's benchmark .NZ50 fell nearly 2% after a Rio Tinto
plan to close an aluminium smelter hit energy stocks. .AX
Restraint was more evident in other asset classes as
investors kept a wary eye on surging coronavirus cases and
increasing tension between China and its trading partners, while
waiting for U.S. jobs figures at 1230 GMT and next week's
earnings.
U.S. stock futures ESc1 eased 0.1%, following another
session of gains on Wall Street overnight. The yield on
benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasuries US10YT=RR remained under
pressure at 0.6562% and gold XAU= sat above $1,800 an ounce.
EARNINGS AHEAD
The U.S. has posted its largest number of daily new
infections since the outbreak began and global tensions are on
the rise.
Five million Australians are under strict stay-at-home rules
in the country's second largest city of Melbourne. And - as the West mulls a tougher response to China's
crackdown in Hong Kong - China's top diplomat said on Thursday
that China-U.S. relations face the most serious challenges since
diplomatic ties were established.
That has investors hoping to hear some good news about the
outlook when U.S. earnings season begins next week.
"Earnings season is upon us, and we really want to see what
it looks like," said Jun Bei Liu, a portfolio manager at
Australia's Tribeca Investment Partners. The focus will be on
the outlook as well as on understanding how deeply stimulus
efforts have flowed through the real economy, she said.
J.P. Morgan JPM.N , Citigroup C.N and Wells Fargo WFC.N
report their results on Tuesday, and Microsoft MSFT.O and
Netflix NFLX.O on Thursday.
Beyond the yuan, major currencies were mostly steady on
Thursday, hanging on to overnight gains against the dollar. The
Aussie AUD=D3 held near the top of its recent range at $0.6974
and the kiwi NZD=D3 briefly made a one-month peak of $0.6583.
Oil prices idled amid concerns about renewed U.S. lockdowns.
Brent crude futures LCOc1 was 0.1% weaker at $43.25 per
barrel. U.S. crude fell 0.3% to $40.79 per barrel. O/R