GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian markets poised for choppy day after Wall Street's fall

By Jessica DiNapoli
NEW YORK, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Asian stock markets faced a
choppy session on Tuesday after Wall Street dipped as investors
took profits at the end of a record-breaking month while still
remaining upbeat about the prospect of a COVID-19 vaccine
fuelling gains into next year.
"U.S. markets were a little bit lower, that's what was
holding us back a little bit," said Chris Weston, head of
research at Melbourne brokerage Pepperstone. "People are pretty
optimistic for a good 2021."
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS was
roughly flat, and Australia's S&P ASX 200 .AXJO was up 0.15%.
In early Asian trade, Japan's Nikkei 225 futures NKc1 added
0.68%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures .HSI .HSIc1 were
down 0.36%.
Wall Street's weakness on Monday was driven partly by a
rebalancing of portfolios, analysts said, as investors cashed in
on gains after a strong month punctuated by updates of COVID-19
vaccines progressing and hopes of a swift economic rebound next
year. Moderna Inc MRNA.O applied for U.S. emergency
authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine after full results from a
late-stage study showed it was 94.1% effective with no serious
safety concerns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 0.91% while the
S&P 500 .SPX lost 0.46%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ended
down 0.06%.
The dollar on Monday rebounded from its lowest level in
2-1/2 years, with investors worried about weakening U.S.
economic data and the absence of any traction on another
stimulus package. Data showed contracts to buy U.S. previously
owned homes fell for a second straight month in October.
The U.S. Treasury curve was slightly steeper on Monday
afternoon. Oil prices fell on uncertainty about whether the world's
major oil producers would agree to extend its deep output cuts
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Global assets http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
Global currencies vs. dollar http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
Emerging markets http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV
MSCI All Country Wolrd Index Market Cap http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
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