* Abe resigns on health grounds; yen jumps
* Investors say lack of detail on Fed policy shift
* U.S. oil prices little moved by massive storm
* Graphic: 2020 asset performance http://tmsnrt.rs/2yaDPgn
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Tommy Wilkes
LONDON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The Japanese yen surged and
stocks fell on Friday after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned
for health reasons, while broader share markets were mixed as
investors worried about a lack of detail in the U.S. Federal
Reserve's policy shift.
The Nikkei 225 .N225 share index closed down 1.4% while
the yen soared more than 1% after Abe announced his resignation,
saying he would stay as prime minister until a new leader was
appointed. There has been speculation about Abe's health all week but
the resignation of Japan's longest-serving premier rattled
investors given he has spearheaded efforts to revive growth
through his reflationary "Abenomics" policies. The yen, seen as a safe-haven currency to buy in times of
uncertainty, jumped 1.2% to 105.33 yen per dollar JPY=EBS ,
putting it on course for its biggest one-day jump since March
when the coronavirus pandemic roiled global markets.
Some analysts said the yen's rally seemed excessive given
that, while there was uncertainty, Abe's successor was unlikely
to alter economic policy significantly because the country
remains in the middle of a battle to avoid deflation and lift
growth.
"Of course it is unclear what kind of policy his successor
will pursue. But realistically: There is unlikely to be a major
change - especially in the direction of a much more restrictive
policy", said Thu Lan Nguyen, a currency analyst at Commerzbank.
It was a mixed day for stock markets elsewhere as investors
continued to digest the Fed's widely-awaited shift in its policy
framework, which was unveiled on Thursday and saw the central
bank place more emphasis on boosting economic growth and less on
worries about inflation running too high.
The policy aims for 2% inflation on average, so too slow a
pace would be followed by an effort to lift inflation
"moderately above 2% for some time." Stocks initially jolted higher as investors bet interest
rates would remain low for longer and more stimulus was likely.
But share markets have since been choppy, with some traders
disappointed the Fed did not reveal more details about how the
new framework would work or provide clues as to what it will do
at its next policy meeting.
"It's not so much about what to do about inflation when it
comes but about getting inflation above target. The challenge is
to get inflation up to target and not very much was said about
that," said Colin Asher, a senior economist at Mizuho.
The Euro STOXX 50 .STOXX50E was last down 0.21%, while
Germany's DAX .GDAXI slid 0.3%. Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE was
flat.
U.S. stock futures clawed their way higher and back to near
record levels after earlier volatile trading on concern about
the impact of a hurricane that struck the centre of the U.S. oil
industry. S&P 500 e-mini futures was were last up 0.24% ESc1 ,
a seventh straight day of gains.
Asian shares outside of Japan limped higher, with the MSCI's
broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS gaining 0.22%.
DOLLAR DECLINE DEEPENS
In currency markets, the dollar extended an earlier drop and
was 0.8% lower against a basket of other currencies =USD by
1115 GMT, taking it back towards its lows of last week - which
saw the dollar at its weakest since early May 2018.
The greenback has fallen sharply since June as many analysts
are predicting more pain ahead if U.S. rates are to stay low for
longer and amid political uncertainty before the U.S.
presidential election in November.
The euro seized on the dollar's weakness to gallop another
0.7% higher and was last at $1.1905 EUR=EBS , close to a more
than two-year high it recently touched.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury US10YT=RR yield rose to as high
as 0.789%, the most since June 10, which caused the yield curve
to steepen, reflecting the Fed's tolerance for higher inflation.
It was last at 0.752%, up 1 basis point on the session.
Crude oil prices see-sawed as a massive storm raced inland
past the heart of the U.S. oil industry in Louisiana and Texas
without causing any widespread damage to refineries.
Brent crude LCOc1 rose 0.09% to $45.13 a barrel. U.S. West
Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 edged 0.23% higher to
$43.14 per barrel. The spot gold price XAU= bounced 1.49% to $1,957 an ounce.
The precious metal tends to perform well when the dollar is weak
and the Fed sends a dovish message on the future path of
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Japanese markets react to Abe resignation https://tmsnrt.rs/3gztlNa
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