* U.S. yields bounce after report of $2 trillion stimulus
plan
* Nikkei hits fresh three-decade peak
* U.S. and European futures edge higher
By Tom Westbrook
SINGAPORE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries slipped on
Thursday on a report that President-elect Joe Biden will
announce a stimulus package as big as $2 trillion, while
Japanese stocks surged to a new three-decade peak as investors
extended bets on a global growth rebound.
The yield on benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasuries US10YT=RR
rose two basis points to 1.1105% after CNN reported on the
possibility Biden could spend $2 trillion, which is much more
than market expectations and which would be funded by borrowing.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 closed up 0.9% at its highest level
since August 1990. It has gained 25% since the end of October.
MSCI's index of Asia shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS
was steady a whisker short of Monday's all-time high. S&P 500
futures ESc1 , FTSE futures FFIc1 and EuroSTOXX 50 futures
STXEc1 all rose about 0.2%.
Treasury yields had tempered their surge this year on
Wednesday as reassurances from the Federal Reserve about its
purchase program calmed a heavy bond selloff and investors bet a
big spending agenda can clear a Democrat-controlled Congress.
Biden is due to outline his economic plans later on Thursday
and U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will also speak,
either one of which could set yields rising again.
"The number one question for global markets and equities
will be when will the Fed start tapering," said Frank Benzimra,
head of Asia equity strategy at Societe Generale in Hong Kong.
"This is where you can get some concern... but at the moment
it is something that is a bit premature. We are in a context
where you have growth accelerating, economic indicators are
good, and in the U.S. the increased probability of fiscal
stimulus."
Currency markets are taking a little more of a wait-and-see
approach, as investors are short dollars and wondering whether
the eventual tapering might limit the greenback's decline. FRX/
The dollar rose 0.2% to 104.12 yen JPY= with U.S. yields
after the CNN report, which cited one lawmaker in contact with
Biden's advisers as its source.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars firmed after slipping
a little overnight, with the Aussie AUD= at $0.7761 and the
kiwi NZD= at $0.7203. The euro EUR= nursed broad but modest
losses at $1.2151 and 126.42 yen EURJPY= .
EXPORTS BOOM
Stellar economic statistics, meanwhile, kept flowing in
North Asia. China's exports grew more than expected in December
- pointing to solid global demand - while machinery orders rose
for a second straight month in Japan. Chinese blue chips .CSI300 eased from a 13-year peak hit
on Wednesday as investors took some profits. .SS
Hong Kong listed shares of tech giants Alibaba 9988.HK and
Tencent 0700.HK rose after sources told Reuters and the Wall
Street Journal that plans to extend a U.S. investment ban to the
stocks had been scrapped. In Washington, the Democrat-controlled House of
Representatives impeached President Donald Trump for a second
time. But markets have been more focused on his attacks on
Chinese companies.
Trump bolstered a ban on U.S. investments in Chinese
companies deemed to be linked with the military by clarifying
late on Wednesday that American investors cannot own them after
November 2021. In commodity markets, oil futures nursed modest losses as
fresh surges in coronavirus cases stoke worries about more
lockdowns and lower energy demand. Brent crude futures LCOc1
were steady at $55.95 a barrel and U.S. crude futures CLc1
flat at $52.88.
Gold XAU= , which pays no interest, has suffered as U.S.
yields have climbed and it traded 0.2% lower at $1,840 an ounce
- well below a two-month peak of $1,959 hit a week ago. GOL/
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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
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