Asian shares ease after vaccine-driven rally

Asian shares made minimal losses on Thursday. The series of declines came after global markets eased from a massive rally. In addition to this, investors’ focus deviated from encouraging vaccine news to weak employment figures and freshly implemented lockdowns in the United States.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ended its session with a 0.56% drop, easing from its milestone peak. Australia’s S&P /ASX 200 plunged 0.12%, while Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei had seen a 0.16% decline.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures gained 0.16% as futures for the S&P 500 plunged 0.10%.

Investors’ vaccine-driven sentiment was heavily dragged by weak U.S. jobs data and new lockdowns, with shares placing near but failing to reach their record peaks. In addition to this, oil extended its rally, while the dollar stepped down from its safe-haven status.