GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian markets shake off U.S. tax worries to push higher

* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Global asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
* World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

By Andrew Galbraith
SHANGHAI, April 23 (Reuters) - Asian shares rose on Friday
after the European Central Bank left policy unchanged, extending
a rebound following a sharp selloff earlier in the week, but
gains were capped as investors considered the impact of a
possible U.S. capital gains tax hike.
The ECB's decision to keep copious stimulus flowing came
despite its prediction of a strong rebound in the euro zone
economy from mid-year as COVID-19 infections are brought under
control. "There were a couple of subtle acknowledgements today that
an upgrade to forecasts is likely coming at the June 10 meeting
... Lagarde did highlight the pick-up in vaccinations and noted
high frequency data are confirming to ECB staff that their
previous view of an improvement in the medium-term (is) on
course," said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National
Australia Bank.
But in a hit to stock market sentiment overnight, the
administration of U.S. President Joe Biden was reported to be
seeking an increase in the capital gains tax to near 40% for
wealthy individuals, almost double the current rate. The Dow
Jones Industrial Average .DJI ended down 0.94%.
"The move on the Dow overnight I think needs to be seen in
the context that it's had a remarkable run up," said James
McGlew, executive director of corporate stockbroking at
Argonaut. "I don't think people are completely negative on the
fact that those tax changes are being flagged. Ultimately it's
money that will feed back into the economy."
In Asia on Friday morning MSCI's broadest index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS shook off
early small losses to rise 0.1%.
Chinese blue-chip shares .CSI300 rose 0.33%, Hong Kong's
Hang Seng .HSI rose 0.55% and Seoul's Kospi .KS11 added
0.16%.
Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 slid 0.68%.
In the currency market the euro EUR= edged up less than
0.1% on the day to $1.2023 after dipping a day earlier. The
dollar was slightly lower against the yen at 107.92 JPY= and
the dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of
currencies of other major trading partners, fell 0.07% to
91.217. =USD
The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR
was little changed at 1.554% after the capital gains tax reports
pulled yields lower on Thursday.
U.S. crude CLc1 rose 0.6% to $61.80 a barrel and global
benchmark Brent crude LCOc1 added 0.47% to $65.71 per barrel.
Spot gold XAU= rose about 0.3% to $1,789.18 per ounce.
GOL/

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