· World shares slip as U.S. retail sales dampen vaccine euphoria
Global shares stepped back on Wednesday as soft U.S. retail sales fuelled worries that rising coronavirus cases could stifle a still fragile economic recovery, dampening the euphoria from vaccine trial breakthroughs.
U.S. S&P500 futures shed 0.4%, a day after the S&P500 index lost 0.48%, while Europe’s Euro Stoxx 50 futures eased 0.3%.
· Japan shares end lower as COVID-19 cases jump in Tokyo
Japanese shares closed lower on Wednesday, with the Nikkei retreating from a more than 29-year closing high notched a day earlier, as soaring COVID-19 cases in Tokyo halted a recent equity rally fuelled by vaccine optimism.
The benchmark Nikkei share average dropped 1.1% to 25,728.14, its biggest daily loss since Oct. 30.
The index, which has gained nearly 12% so far this month, posted its highest close since 1991 on Tuesday.
The broader Topix lost 0.81% to 1,720.65.
But many Asian markets bucked the trend, with MSCI’s broadest index of Ex-Japan Asia-Pacific shares rising 0.3%, helped by better handling of the pandemic in much of the region and a continued pick up in China’s economic recovery.
· Shanghai shares end higher as market eyes fresh policy support
China stocks shed some of their early gains, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite index ending the session higher on Wednesday, lifted by the government’s pledge to implement additional policy measures to prop up a coronavirus-ravaged broad economy.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.22% at 3,347.30, while the blue-chip CSI300 index ended 0.06% lower.
· European markets muted as vaccine rally falters
European stocks were muted on Wednesday morning as a global market rally falters following a spate of positive coronavirus vaccine news.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 inched 0.2% lower in early trade with industrials shedding 0.6% to lead losses while retail stocks added 0.2%.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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