GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian shares set for mixed open on resurgent virus worries

By John McCrank
NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Asian shares were set for
choppy trade on Wednesday as the investor focus swung between
concerns about a new faster-spreading variant of the coronavirus
and hopes that more U.S. fiscal aid would propel an economic
recovery.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 .AXJO was up 0.60% in early
trading, following three-straight days of losses. Japan's Nikkei
225 futures NKc1 were down 0.13%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng
index futures .HSIc1 were down 0.05%.
U.S. stocks ended mostly lower over concerns the new COVID
variation, which has halted movement in and out of the UK and
sent vaccine makers scrambling to ensure their drugs are
effective against it, could further hamper a softening economic
recovery. Data showed U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly fell in
December, for second-straight monthly decline, as renewed
restrictions aimed at slowing the pandemic hobbled businesses,
overshadowing the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines. U.S. existing home sales also came in lower than expected
Congress approved a long-anticipated new fiscal stimulus
package worth nearly $900 billion late on Monday, but economists
said it would likely fall short of what was needed to counter a
winter of rising coronavirus infections and layoffs. "It's interesting to note the very muted response from
investors globally to the U.S. stimulus package," said Michael
McCarthy, Chief Markets Strategist, at CMC Markets. "It doesn't
seem to be the magic bullet investors once thought it was."
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, warning that the "darkest
days in the battle against COVID are ahead of us," said his
administration will put forward another COVID-19 relief package
early next year. The S&P 500 .SPX ended down 0.21% and the Dow Jones
Industrial Average .DJI fell 0.67%, while the Nasdaq Composite
.IXIC gained 0.51%.
MSCI's index of global stocks .MIWD00000PUS was off 0.15%.
Oil prices fell on demand worries linked to the new COVID
strain, with Brent LCOc1 last down 2.16% at $49.81 a barrel
and U.S. crude CLc1 2.44% lower at $46.80.
The safe-haven U.S. dollar =USD was up 0.56% against a
basket of currencies, while both the euro EUR=EBS and the
pound GBP=D3 were slightly higher, having clawed back earlier
losses amid talk of a potential post-Brexit trade deal on the
table between Britain and the European Union.