* Sino-U.S. tensions outweigh optimism over re-opening
* Nikkei, ASX retreat from multi-month highs, MSCI AxJ -0.3%
* Currencies steady; Trump press conference awaited
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
By Tom Westbrook
SINGAPORE, May 29 (Reuters) - Stock markets dipped and
safe-havens such as bonds and Japan's yen firmed on Friday, as
investors awaited Washington's response to China tightening
control over the city of Hong Kong.
China's parliament on Thursday pressed ahead with national
security legislation for the city, raising fears over the future
of its freedoms and function as a finance hub.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed a tough response,
said he will hold a news conference on China later on Friday.
Trepidation about a further deterioration in Sino-U.S. relations
sent stocks lower and put investors on edge. European futures were in the red, with FTSE futures FFIc1
down 0.7% and EuroSTOXX 50 futures STXEc1 1% lower. Futures
for the S&P 500 ESc1 slipped 0.2%.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS slipped 0.1%. The Nikkei .N225 retreated
slightly from a three-month high and, though moves were small,
the safe-haven yen rose to a two-week high and bonds rose.
"It is seen as a major threat to the rally we've had and the
recovery," said Shane Oliver, chief economist at Australian
wealth manager AMP Capital.
The possible U.S. response could range from a tearing up of
the Phase 1 trade deal and fresh tariffs on China, to milder
travel or financial sanctions on Chinese officials, he said.
"If it's at the relatively mild end, then I don't think it
would derail the recovery bull market, but if it's at the more
extreme end with tariffs and harsh treatment of Hong Kong, then
I think it gets more problematic," Oliver said.
Trump offered a muted response to Hong Kong's mass democracy
protests last year while prioritising a trade deal with Chinese
President Xi Jinping. But ties with Beijing have since soured
considerably through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hong Kong's government warned on Friday that withdrawing its
special U.S. status, which has underpinned it as a finance hub,
could be a "double-edged sword" and urged the United States to
stop interfering in internal affairs. The Chinese yuan CNY= weakened slightly in onshore trade.
CNY/
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index .HSI was 0.5% lower in early
trade and has lost about 3% in the two weeks since news of
China's security legislation broke. .HK
In bond markets, yields on benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasuries
US10YT=RR fell 3 basis points to 0.6705%, more than 100 basis
points below where they began 2020.
MAY MARCHES ON
Despite the gathering tension and the near-daily release of
diabolical economic data, enormous global stimulus seems to have
dispelled the old adage to "sell in May".
The S&P 500 .SPX is up 4% for the month and on track for
its best May since 2009. The rally in the risk-sensitive Aussie
dollar AUD=D3 is slowing, but the currency has gained nearly
2% for the month and sits 20% above March lows.
The optimism stems from signs of progress away from the
presently parlous state of the world economy.
The number of Americans seeking jobless benefits fell for an
eighth straight week last week and New York has outlined plans
for reopening. "As we have said about the reopening and ensuing recovery,
this is a process," said RBC Capital Markets' chief U.S.
economist, Tom Porcelli. "And right now the process is moving
along in the right direction."
The euro EUR= was headed for its best month since December
as the European Union's 750-billion-euro coronavirus recovery
fund fuelled optimism about the bloc and its political future.
FRX/
It hit a fresh two-month high of $1.1100 briefly and last
sat at $1.0935.
Gold was firm at $1,720.87 an ounce. GOL/
Demand jitters kept oil under pressure and Brent crude
LCOc1 slipped 33 cents or 0.9% to $34.96 a barrel, while U.S.
crude Clc1 was down 1.6% at $33.17 a barrel. O/R