Asia shares cautious as US futures ease, lot hanging on Biden plan

Asian share markets turned mixed on Monday as US equity futures slipped and investors awaited details of proposed trillions in US fiscal spending that many are counting on to supercharge the global economic recovery.

Optimism about the US economy has been helped by the vaccination rollout with some 143 million shots given to almost 94 million people, far ahead of Europe's rollout.

President Joe Biden is expected to put some flesh on his infrastructure spending plans on Wednesday, while payrolls on Friday are forecast to rise 630,000 amid speculation it could be a million or more.

"We expect the global economy to expand robustly at 6.4% this year, fuelled by a large US fiscal stimulus, with positive spillovers for the rest of the world," said Barclays economist Christian Keller.

"Rising inflation over the coming months should be transitory, and core central banks seem committed to looking through it."

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan nudged up 0.3%, with activity restrained by the approach of quarter-end. Chinese blue chips rose 0.5%.

Japan's Nikkei added 1%, though there was some nervousness when Nomura reported its US unit could face a $2 billion loss related to a client.

There was also some caution after a $20 billion wave of block trades hit markets on Friday, reportedly linked to investment fund Archegos Capital.

For now, Nasdaq futures were off 0.5% and S&P 500 futures 0.4%.

The prospect of faster US economic growth has spurred speculation of rising inflation and weighed on Treasury prices. Yields on US 10-year notes eased a touch on Monday to 1.66%, but were still not far from the recent 13-month top of 1.754%.

European yields have been restrained by active buying from the European Central Bank, widening the dollar's yield advantage over the euro. The single currency was last at $1.1786, having hit a five-month low of $1.1760 last week.

Analysts at TD Securities noted the euro had failed to find any benefit from a very strong German Ifo survey on Friday that showed business morale at a near two-year high and signs of recovery in the service sector.

"This suggests that market positioning still remains significantly skewed toward the long side in EURUSD — even though spot has seen a meaningful decline through the 200-day moving average," they wrote in a note. "We continue to focus on downside risks from here."

The dollar was also firm at 109.70 yen, having reached its highest since early June on Friday at 109.84. The dollar index stood at 92.776, after reaching its highest since mid-November.

The lift in yields has weighed on gold, which offers no fixed return, and left it at $1,730 an ounce.

Oil prices, and commodities in general, have been supported by speculation a blockage in the Suez canal could take weeks to clear, delaying oil shipments of a million barrels a day. There are now over 300 vessels waiting to pass through the shipping route which accounts for 12% of global trade.

The market will be cautious ahead of an OPEC meeting this week, which will have to decide whether to extend supply limits, or loosen the spigots.

Brent was off 7 cents at $64.50 in early trade, while US crude dipped 24 cents to $60.73 per barrel.