* Asia ex-Japan stock valuations nearing bull market highs
* Confidence in domestic recovery builds in Australia, U.S.
* Australia central bank drops easing bias
By Kevin Plumberg
HONG KONG, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Asian stocks hit an 11-month
high on Tuesday before profit taking pulled them back, while
the Australian dollar also pared gains after the country's
central bank left interest rates unchanged but offered no clues
on when tightening would begin.
Major European stock futures were down 0.3 percent <STEXc1>
and U.S. equity futures off 0.4 percent <SPc1>, after the
FTSEurofirst 300 index and the S&P 500 index both closed at
nine-month highs on Monday.
The Reserve Bank of Australia shifted away from its rate
cutting bias and expressed more optimism on the economy, but
stopped short of indicating a need to eventually raise rates,
disappointing investors with bets on the Australian currency.
Still the market backdrop remained positive, and corporate
results have been inspiring optimism, adding fuel to a rally
that is into its fifth month.
Shares of HSBC <0005.HK>, Europe's largest lender, climbed
7 percent after the company said after Hong Kong's market
closed on Monday that first-half profits were cut in half
compared with a year ago but still beat analysts' forecasts,
spurring a wave of brokerage upgrades.
"We're seeing a lot of positive factors -- good U.S.
indicators and solid Japanese earnings, both of which are
boosting the Nikkei. But right now we're also seeing a bit of
natural reaction to these rises," said Masayuki Kubota, a
senior fund manager at Daiwa SB Investments in Tokyo.
Japan's Nikkei share average <> edged up 0.2 percent
to a 10-month high, driven by technology-related stocks. After
the close, Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T> posted its third straight
quarterly loss, but gave an improved outlook based on deep cost
reductions. []
The MSCI index of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan
<.MIAPJ0000PUS> was largely unchanged by midafternoon after
earlier hitting its highest level since early September. The
materials sector outperformed by a wide margin, up 1.5 percent.
Since March 9, when a global equity market rally began, the
index has risen 75 percent, leading the world. Valuations have
been ticking higher and earnings outlooks are uncertain, but so
far investors have been comfortable paying what they view as a
growth premium.
On a 12-month forward basis, the Asia Pacific index is
trading at around 14.8 times earnings, up from 10.9 times on
March 9 but still below the last bull market peak of 16 times,
according to global estimates tracker Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
RECOVERY, CLUNKERS AND NOT SO HAWKISH
Asia's economies, especially in China and South Korea, were
among the first in the world to show results of stimulus
spending. However, the U.S. economy has also indicated growing
momentum, emboldening investors to shift more money out of cash
and into higher-yielding assets.
U.S. auto sales in July were a 2009 high, thanks largely to
a "Cash for Clunkers" government programme that offered a
handout to trade in older, less fuel-efficient cars. In
addition, a U.S. manufacturing gauge showed much less
contraction in the sector than expected in July.
The Australian dollar was up 0.1 percent to US$0.8423 in a
volatile session. The currency rose to an intraday high around
$0.8470 <AUD=> after sequential growth in second quarter
Australian retail sales and housing prices exceeded forecasts,
though cut its gains after the RBA statement.
"The RBA has removed the explicit easing bias but replaced
it with a tightening bias so weak it is almost not recognisable
as one. It was certainly not as hawkish as some had been
advertising," said Rory Robertson, interest rate strategist
with Macquarie in Sydney.
The ICE Futures U.S. dollar index <.DXY>, a measure of the
currency's value against a basket of six major currencies, was
little changed after earlier touching a 10-month low. Sentiment
was negative after the index dropped through major chart
support overnight.
Government bonds remained under pressure from growing
appetite for risk, despite the equity market's intraday
volatility.
The 10-year Australian treasury bond future <YTCc1> dipped
0.03 point after earlier falling to the lowest since early
October, while the 10-year Japanese government bond future
sagged 0.12 point <2JGBv1> to the lowest in more than a month.
U.S. Treasuries were largely unchanged in both the cash and
futures market.
Oil prices also fell on profit taking after a three-day
rally helped crude clear $70 a barrel. U.S. light crude for
September delivery was down 0.7 percent to $71.10 <CLc1>, and
Brent was off 0.35 percent to $73.29 <LCOc1>.
(Additional reporting by Aiko Hayashi in TOKYO)
(Editing by Kim Coghill)
