Asia shares supported by upbeat US manufacturing, but virus woes cap gains

TOKYO: Asian shares advanced on Tuesday thanks to strong US manufacturing data and upbeat tech stocks, though broader worries about the coronavirus and global economy saw some markets trim early gains.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.41pc, but shares in China edged 0.04pc lower on simmering Sino-US tensions. Australian stocks gained 1.88pc for the biggest intraday gain since July 21.

Tokyo shares also jumped by more than 1pc.

Euro Stoxx 50 futures were up 0.49pc, German DAX futures rose 0.53pc, while FTSE futures were up 0.13pc.

Oil futures gave up their overnight gains and fell due to nagging worries about an increase in the supply of crude. US stock futures were 0.24pc higher.

An industry gauge released overnight indicated US manufacturing activity expanded in July at the fastest pace in more than a year, which helped Wall Street shares rise on Monday.

However, some investors remain cautious due to worries about a resurgence of the coronavirus and a diplomatic tussle over Chinese tech companies' operations in the United States.

"It has been an upbeat US trading session and Asia will absorb the leads accordingly," Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone, said in a market note.

On Monday the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.89pc, the S&P 500 gained 0.72pc, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.47pc to set a record closing high as investors cheered the manufacturing data.

That data also caused the US Treasury curve to steepen, an indication of improved investor sentiment.

US stocks received an additional lift from Microsoft , which jumped 5.6pc after it formally declared interest in buying the US operations of TikTok, a popular video-sharing app owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to ban TikTok unless its US operations are sold off from ByteDance.

Washington is also preparing to take action against other Chinese software companies that could share user data with Beijing, setting the stage for further conflict.

The dollar held steady against its counterparts as traders awaited progress in negotiations for additional economic stimulus.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will meet with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Tuesday to continue talks, raising hopes for a breakthrough sometime soon.

The "only good thing we can say on the political impasse in Washington is that negotiations remain ongoing," analysts at National Australia Bank said in a market note.

Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans on Monday called forcefully for more US government spending to support the economy, saying "demand trouble is brewing" as existing relief policies expire.

Spot gold was down 0.18pc on Tuesday but still near a record high of $1,984.66 set on Monday amid support from virus fears.

US crude dipped 0.17pc to $40.94 a barrel, while Brent crude fell 0.23pc to $44.05 per barrel due to worries about extra supply coming to market.

Russia has started to increase oil and gas output, a source told Reuters.

Other oil producers are also expected to increase output this month after OPEC and its allies agreed to ease production curbs.