SINGAPORE– Shares in Asia-Pacific had a hard time for instructions on Monday, as financiers continue to keep an eye on the U.S. Treasury yield curve.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan slipped fractionally as shares of Tokyo Electron dropped around 2%. The Topix index climbed up about 0.1%.
South Korea’s Kospi dipped 0.49%.Elsewhere in Australia, the S&P/ ASX 200 increased 0.43%.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.08% lower.
Markets in mainland China are closed on Monday and Tuesday today for vacations.
A carefully watched part of U.S. Treasury yields inverted on Friday as short-term rates leapt following the release of tasks information stateside, raising issues over a prospective economic crisis on the horizon.
The standard 10- year Treasury yield last sat at 2.3895%, while the rate on the 2-year Treasury note was at 2.4625%. Yields relocation inversely to rates, with 1 basis point equivalent to 0.01%.
Currencies
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback versus a basket of its peers, was at 98.627, as compared to levels listed below 98 seen in late March.
The Japanese yen traded at 122.52 per dollar, more powerful than levels above 124 seen versus the greenback recently. The Australian dollar was at $0.7485, having actually sold a variety in between $0.747 and $0.753 for much of recently.
Oil rates were lower in the early morning of Asia trading hours, with worldwide standard Brent unrefined futures down 0.88% to $10347 per barrel. U.S. unrefined futures slipped 0.93% to $9835 per barrel.
— CNBC’s Patti Domm added to this report.
