Asia equities fluctuate after vaccine rally, eyes on Capitol Hill

Asian investors traded cautiously Wednesday after the previous day's strong rally, with optimism over a possible vaccine tempered by profit-taking and concerns about the slow progress being made by US lawmakers in drafting a new stimulus package.

News that trials on a COVID-19 vaccine had shown early promise provided a much-needed boost to equities, particularly as a spike in new infections around the world has caused governments to reimpose business-strangling containment measurements.

But with the European Union finally locking in their $860 billion deal on Tuesday, attention turns to Washington, where Republicans are struggling to put together a new bill to support the world's top economy, with the $3 trillion of measures passed earlier this year about to dry up at the end of the month.

The wall of government cash and central bank back-stop, along with similar measures in other countries, have helped fire a surge in equities across the planet since they hit their March depths.

However, while Democrats have drawn up a new $3.5-trillion plan, Republicans and officials in the White House are bogged down trying to draw up their own stimulus, which is said to be around $1 trillion.

Among the sticking points are the extension of a supplement to unemployment benefits and Donald Trump's desire for tax cuts, and with Congress due to take a break in August there is a concern a deal will not be agreed, leaving millions without cash.

Still Trump said he was optimistic, telling a White House briefing: "We're working very hard on it, we're making a lot of progress.

"I also know that both sides want to get it done."

With one eye on developments on Capitol Hill, Asian equities were moving in and out of positive territory.

Hong Kong added 0.1 percent after rising more than two percent on Tuesday, while Shanghai rose 0.7 percent and Seoul edged up 0.3 percent.

Taipei, Jakarta and Wellington were also up but Tokyo slipped by the break while Sydney fell more than one percent the day after chalking up a gain of more than two percent.

But Morgan Stanley strategist Andrew Sheets said stocks would have trouble pushing on with their rally.

"I'm more concerned going into the August, September period: what's going to then be the next catalyst to take the broader market higher?" he told Bloomberg TV, adding it was going to be "a tougher period for stocks".

The euro extended gains against the dollar following the EU agreement and was sitting at its highest levels since early 2019, while the Federal Reserve's ultra-low interest rates continue to help higher-yielding currencies including the Australian dollar, Indonesian rupiah and South Korean won.

Expectations that rates will remain low for some time, and ongoing uncertainty over the spread of COVID-19, have also led traders into gold, which is considered a hedge against turmoil.

The yellow metal was sitting at $1,860 an ounce Wednesday and is approaching its record high above $1,900.

The rally in gold, which is up almost a quarter this year, has helped drive silver to a seven-year high of $22.84 per ounce.

"Silver is surging, and we think it is likely to remain strong," James Steel, chief precious metals analyst at HSBC Securities (USA), said.

"Some investors who may not have participated fully in the gold rally could find silver attractive. We believe this is happening and may sustain silver at higher prices still."

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 percent at 22,828.75 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.1 percent at 25,657.49

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,345.49

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1540 from $1.1522 at 2100 GMT

Dollar/yen: UP at 106.81 yen from 106.77 yen

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2726 from $1.2733

Euro/pound: UP at 90.63 pence from 90.49 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7 percent at $41.63 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.6 percent at $44.05 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 26,840.40 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 6,269.73 (close)

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