Asian markets

Several countries continued to loosen up, including in Britain where pubs, restaurants, hotels and cinemas were told they could open again from July 4.

The lingering optimism provided support to higher-yielding, riskier currencies.

While traders continue to buy into world markets on hopes the economy will bounce back, analysts urged some caution.

While tensions between China and the US continue to play in the background, the general mood at the start of June has been upbeat.

Global markets have been on a roll for weeks with countries slowly reopening after shutdowns and trillions of dollars in stimulus and central bank support,

Despite the threat of another trade war, investors are focusing on the easing of lockdowns around the world.

The downbeat mood was compounded by another spike in US jobless claims and overshadowed news several countries were easing strict lockdown measures.

Federal Reserve officials also warned about the long-term financial impact of an extended shutdown.

Equities were broadly lower Tuesday, though they were fluctuating throughout early business.

The rally followed months of slumping prices after the COVID-19 outbreak sapped demand as countries around the world are under lockdown.

The slowing rate of news infections is providing some much-needed buoyancy to equities as investors eye an easing of lockdown restrictions.

Traders' focus has returned to the devastation wrought on populations and the long-term impact of the pandemic.

The World Bank warned that fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could bring China's growth to a standstill.

The unprecedented $2 trillion plan helped spur a surge across global equities as panicked traders worried about the impact of the coronavirus.

The negative mood was fuelled by the failure of US lawmakers to agree on a trillion-dollar emergency package to help the reeling American economy.

There is a broad consensus that the disease, which has wiped trillions off market valuations, will cause a global recession.

Traders are keeping an eye on Washington after Donald Trump pledged relief measures as the disease spreads around the United States.

The rapid spread of the disease and rising death toll are putting a greater strain on economies and stoking concerns of a worldwide recession.

The surprise cut came as central banks around the world pledge to do what they can to mitigate the fallout from coronavirus.

The positive sentiment filtered through to oil markets, where dealers are betting on major producers cutting output to address tumbling demand.

The panic has already caused a bloodbath on trading floors and there are warnings there could be worse to come.

Investors are growing increasingly fearful about the economic impact with companies including Apple, Microsoft and drinks giant Diageo.

With cases being reported in new countries, traders are growing increasingly fearful about the impact on the global economy.

Cautious comments on the fallout from the virus by US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell added to the sense of calm.

Heading into the weekend, dealers were taking a step back after the week's strong gains across the world.

Asia was given a firm lead from Wall Street, where all three main indexes ended higher.

Analysts have attributed the latest run of records to upbeat investor sentiment based on a lower risk of recession in the immediate future.

A report by Mastercard Spending Plus estimated that holiday shopping sales rose by a better-than-expected 3.4 percent this year.

With very little by way of market-moving events on the horizon, analysts are expecting a quiet week.

Japan's benchmark share index hits highest level in 21 years after Abe won a decisive election victory on 22 October.