04:40 CDT UPDATE!! Euro share trade balancing out earlier Asian negativity while US index futures are now just about flat showing only a miniscule negative tone. Call it a "mixed" opening..
World markets: Stocks in Asia finished mostly lower. In morning trading, major European markets were modestly higher.
A/O 2:15AM CDT, overnite US index futures pointing to about a 40-point lower DOW opening.
By Eric Burroughs
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Asian stock markets were mixed on Monday as many investors stuck to the sidelines as the second quarter winds down, while the dollar recovered from a slide on worries about the push by major emerging countries for a reserve currency alternative.
A drop in oil prices pulled down energy-related shares, with Japan's Nippon Oil losing nearly 2 percent. Crude oil lost 51 cents a barrel to $68.65 on easing tensions in major exporter Nigeria.
Japan's Nikkei average (.N225) edged up 0.4 percent, with shares of Nippon Electric Glass (5214.T) climbing 1 percent after the maker of LCD glass lifted its estimated earnings for the April-June quarter to double the top of its previous forecast range.
The dollar inched higher after being hit on Friday when China's central bank renewed calls for a super-sovereign currency to reduce the U.S. dollar's global domination, saying it was a serious defect in the international system for one currency to tower over all others.
On the sidelines of a meeting of central bankers over the weekend, China and Brazil said they were discussing a currency arrangement to allow exports and importers to settle deals in local currencies, thereby avoiding the dollar.
T. W. Merryman
Managing Director
Interconti, Limited
(Market Research Analysts)
Chicago, IL 60604
e: intercon@intercontilimited.com
w: www.intercontilimited.com