In This Article:
(Recasts lead, add analyst comment, updates levels throughout)
* MSCI Asia ex-Japan on backfoot as yields stay high
* Index on track for its first monthly loss since October 2020
* U.S. dollar hovers near one-year highs against Japanese yen
* Oil ticks higher, gold edges down
By Swati Pandey
SYDNEY, March 31 (Reuters) - Asian stocks were on the backfoot on Wednesday while the safe-haven dollar held near a one-year high as Treasury yields resumed their upward march, hitting sentiment even as Chinese data underpinned signs of a solid global economic recovery.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside of Japan eased from a one-week high of 682.36 points to be last at 680.04 and still a fair distance away from an all-time peak of 745.89 touched just last month.
For the month so far, the index is down 1.6% to be on track for its first loss in five months. It is poised for its fourth consecutive quarterly gain though it would be the smallest increase since a 21% fall in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill.
"Markets are watching closely to gauge the damage and potential ripple effects caused by the Archegos Capital Management crisis," ANZ analysts wrote in a note.
Some global banks are facing billions of dollars in losses after U.S. investment firm Archegos Capital Management LP defaulted on margin calls, putting investors on edge about who else might be exposed.
"For some this serves as a timely reminder that while pandemic risks are abating, financial market risks remain elevated," ANZ added.
The risk-off mood lately has been set off by a surge in bond yields. U.S. Treasury yields skyrocketed 83 basis points just this quarter, the biggest increase in over a decade, making equity valuations look lofty particularly for major tech companies which have borne the brunt of the sell-off.
On Wednesday, 10-year Treasury yields rose as high as 1.742% from Tuesday's 1.708%.
Analysts at Blackrock said they still liked tech stocks.
"Tech is a diverse sector and the driver of higher yields matters more than the rise itself," Blackrock said in a note to clients.
"Our new nominal theme implies central banks will be slower to raise rates to curb inflation than in the past, supporting our pro-risk stance and preference for tech."
Over a 6-12 month period, Blackrock is "overweight" equities and "underweight" U.S. Treasuries, expecting a nominal increase in yields.
"The 'term premium tantrum' mostly reflects investors requiring higher compensation for the now greater risks to portfolios presented by government bonds and inflation, in our view," Blackrock said.