GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares grind lower amid vaccine doubts, economic concern

* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Highly-anticipated vaccine facing more scrutiny
* Equity markets pull back from record highs
* Oil hit by concerns about oversupply
* U.S. financial markets closed Thursday for Thanksgiving

By Stanley White
TOKYO, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Asian shares fell slightly on
Friday, pulling back from a record high hit earlier this week,
amid renewed doubts about a highly-anticipated coronavirus
vaccine and concern about the economic impact from the pandemic.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS fell 0.07%. Australian shares .AXJO were down
0.15%. Japan's Nikkei .N225 fell 0.09%.
U.S. S&P 500 e-mini stock futures ESc1 fell 0.24% in early
Asian trade. U.S. financial markets were closed on Thursday for
the Thanksgiving holiday and will trade on a partial schedule
later on Friday.
Oil prices looked set to extend their declines from a
seven-month high due to signs of oversupply.
British drugmaker AstraZeneca's AZN.L coronavirus drug was
touted as a "vaccine for the world" due to its inexpensive cost,
but the efficacy of the vaccine is now facing more intense
scrutiny, which experts say could delay its approval.
Several scientists have raised doubts about the robustness
of results showing the shot was 90% effective in a sub-group of
trial participants who, by error initially, received a half dose
followed by a full dose.
"With global case numbers having now topped 60 million...
there is certainly some rough terrain ahead for the global
recovery, and that can create economic scarring," analysts at
ANZ Bank wrote in a memo.
MSCI's broadest gauge of world stocks .MIWD00000PUS was up
0.02% on Friday in Asia, sitting just below a record high
reached in the previous session.
Doubts about the distribution of a coronavirus vaccine have
placed renewed focus on the current state of the pandemic, which
looks grim for many places.
U.S. hospitalizations for COVID-19 are at a record and
experts warn that Thanksgiving could lead to further infections
and deaths. More than 20 million people across England will be forced to
live under the toughest restrictions even after a national
lockdown ends on Dec. 2. Partial lockdowns in some European
countries have also raised concern about economic growth.
The European Central Bank's chief economist highlighted
these concerns in dovish comments on Thursday, which pushed
European bond yields lower. The euro EUR=EBS , which last bought $1.1910, showed little
reaction because currency traders have largely priced in
expectations for additional ECB easing next month.
The dollar index =USD was near its lowest in more than two
months, but moves were subdued due to the U.S. trading holiday.
U.S. crude CLc1 dipped 1.71% to $44.93 a barrel.
Fuel demand is falling due to renewed coronavirus lockdowns,
but some oil producers are not complying with agreed production
cuts, which raises concerns about oversupply.
Spot gold XAU= , which is often sought during times of
uncertainty, was little changed at $1,809.51 per ounce following
a 0.3% gain on Thursday. GOL/
Bitcoin BTC=BTSP , the world's biggest cryptocurrency,
steadied at $17,180 on Thursday, but it tumbled by 8.4% in the
previous session after failing to take out its record high of
$19,666.
Bitcoin has rallied around 140% this year, fuelled by demand
for riskier assets.

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