* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* MSCI ex-Japan swings higher, Nikkei bounces
* S&P 500 futures steady despite doubts on vaccine rollouts
* Retail crowd turns gaze on silver, jumps to 6-mth high
* Dollar supported by cautious mood, bonds brace for supply
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Asian shares rallied on Monday and
U.S. stock futures recouped early losses as newly empowered
retail investors turned their attention to precious metals,
promising a respite to some hard-hit hedge funds.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS climbed 1.4% after four straight sessions of
losses.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 added 1.2%, after shedding almost 2%
on Friday, while Chinese blue chips .CSI300 gained 0.5% as the
country's central bank injected more cash into money markets.
Futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 edged up 0.3%, having been
down as much as 1% in early action, while NASDAQ futures NQc1
firmed 0.1%. EUROSTOXX 50 futures STXEc1 added 0.6% and FTSE
futures FFIc1 0.2%.
Dealers noted a shift in the headline-grabbing battle
between retail investors and Wall Street that led hedge funds
last week to trade the most stock in a decade amid wild swings
in GameStop Corp GME.N . Talk now was that silver was the new target for the retail
crowd, as the metal jumped 6% to a six-month high XAG= ,
possibly limiting the need for distressed selling by stock
funds. Analysts cautioned this entertaining episode was really a
sideshow compared with signs of a loss of economic momentum in
the United States and Europe as coronavirus lockdowns bite.
Indeed, two surveys from China showed factory activity
slowed in January as restrictions took a toll in some regions.
Neither was the news on vaccine rollouts positive,
especially given doubts about whether they will work on new
COVID strains.
"It is these considerations, not what is happening to a
video game retailer day to day, that has weighed on risk
assets," said John Briggs, global head of strategy at NatWest
Markets. "So much of the market's valuations, risk in
particular, is premised on the fact we can see a light at the
end of the COVID tunnel."
Doubts have also emerged about the future of President Joe
Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package, with 10 Republican
senators urging a $600 billion plan. The jitters in stocks caused only a brief ripple in bonds,
with Treasury yields actually rising late last week, perhaps a
refection of the tidal wave of borrowing underway.
A record $1.11 trillion of gross Treasury issuance is slated
for this quarter, up from $685 billion the same time last year.
On Monday, U.S. 10-year yields US10YT=RR had nudged up to
1.08% and nearer the recent 10-month top of 1.187%.
Higher yields combined with the more cautious market mood
have seen the safe-haven dollar steady above its recent lows.
The dollar index stood at 90.535 =USD , having bounced from a
trough of 89.206 hit early in January.
The euro idled at $1.2129 EUR= , well off its recent peak
at $1.2349, while the dollar held firm at 104.70 yen JPY= .
Gold followed silver higher to $1,862 an ounce XAU= , but
has repeatedly stalled at resistance around $1,875. GOL/
Oil also tracked the gains in other commodities, with U.S.
crude CLc1 rising 21 cents to $52.42 a barrel. Brent crude
LCOc1 futures gained 33 cents to $55.37. O/R
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Asia stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
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