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Asia shares gain, gold hits record high
European shares were seen rising on the improved prospects for the U.S. economy and U.S. S&P 500 futures were up 0.3 percent.
The dollar fell to its lowest in seven weeks against the yen and remained under pressure against other major currencies on a combination of factors including expectations that U.S. interest rates will remain low for some time.
Spot gold, which has risen 13 percent so far this month, held above $1,177.4 per ounce after hitting a high of $1,178.3 on a weakening dollar and the India's Financial Chronicle newspaper report.
"The India report has certainly helped to push the momentum in the market today," said Darren Heathcote, head of trading at Investec Australia.
Asian stock markets held firm, with the MSCI index of Asia Pacific stocks traded outside Japan rising 0.81 percent. The Thomson Reuters index of regional shares was up 1.29 percent.
Tokyo stock market's benchmark Nikkei average turned higher after sliding to a four-month intraday low, but the outlook remained murky on doubts about the health of the world's second-largest economy.
As confidence in Japan's economy wanes, financial markets have been reflecting some of that concern with the stock market trailing rest of the region significantly these past few weeks.
WARY EYE ON U.S. CONSUMPTION
"There is uncertainty about the outlook for corporate revenue in an appreciating yen environment," Toshiro Muto, chairman of Daiwa Institute of Research and former Deputy Bank of Japan Governor, told a news conference in Hong Kong.
"There is an observation that Japanese banks are strengthening capital procurement. And third, although not the main reason, changes in the Japanese government have created uncertainty about Japanese policies,"
Pension Funds have been cutting stocks holdings and increasing exposure to foreign holdings to diversify and rebalance their investments.
The MSCI index of non-Japanese Asia Pacific stocks has jumped 66 percent so far this year, whereas the Nikkei average is up just 7 percent over the same period.
Investors in Asian stock markets are maintaining a wary eye on the pace of recovery in U.S. consumption, with shopping activities on this week's so-called black Friday likely to provide an early guide.
Australian stocks and the Aussie dollar were both boosted by upbeat comments from a top central banker which boosted expectations that the central bank could rise rates next week.
U.S. crude oil prices rebounded above $76 a barrel after falling 2 percent in the previous session on disappointing U.S. growth and data showing a big build in crude inventories, both signalling weak demand in the world's top energy user.
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