Asian markets mostly down as inflation trumps recovery optimism

HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly fell Monday as inflation concerns play off against optimism over the global economic recovery, while spiking infections in parts of the region are also keeping investors on their toes.

Wall Street provided a tepid lead at the end of last week, though European equities were given a boost by upbeat eurozone economic data and progress in the bloc's vaccination drive after a slow start.

With expectations that the global recovery will pick up pace this year, the main focus is now on the impact that will have on prices, with observers warning a long period of high inflation will force central banks to wind back the ultra-loose monetary policies that have helped fire a long-running market rally.

Adding to the upward pressure on inflation is President Joe Biden's massive stimulus package passed earlier this year, while he also has others worth trillions more on infrastructure and help for families.

The Federal Reserve has repeatedly said it will not scale back on its largesse, which includes vast bond-buying and record low interest rates, until unemployment is tamed and inflation is running hot consistently. But investors continue to worry that it might be forced to act sooner than expected.

"It's going to be a very mixed market over the next several months until we get more information on what's really going to happen with inflation and how the stimulus in the US affects spending there, but also how the coronavirus really progresses," JoAnne Feeney, at Advisors Capital Management LLC, told Bloomberg TV.

A healthy reading on activity in the services industries of the United States, Britain and eurozone reinforced expectations of a strong rebound.

The readings "should keep inflation fears alive and plays into the view of central banks needing to normalise policy earlier than their official guidance suggests", said National Australia Bank's Tapas Strickland.

He pointed out that Philadelphia Fed president Patrick Harker -- who has until recently said it was too early to tighten policy -- was in support of having a discussion on tapering "sooner rather than later", adding the turnaround appeared to come after the release of forecast-busting consumer and producer price figures.

In early trade, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta were all in negative territory. Tokyo, Sydney and Singapore edged up.

Bitcoin was hovering around $35,000, having almost fallen through $30,000 for the first time since January, with the cryptocurrency seeing extreme volatility in recent weeks following a series of tweets by tech tycoon Elon Musk and warnings of a crackdown by China.

Key figures around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 percent at 28,376.70 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.8 percent at 28,234.43

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,478.85

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.2182 from $1.2185 at 2050 GMT on Friday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.4142 from $1.4150

Euro/pound: UP at 86.15 pence from 86.07 pence

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 108.93 yen from 108.95 yen

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.9 percent at $64.12 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 0.8 percent at $66.99 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 34,207.84 (close)

London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 7,018.05 (close)