SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Asian shares rose and the dollar held firm on Wednesday (Nov 29) after Wall Street shot to record peaks amid signs of progress on US tax cuts, upbeat economic data and bank-friendly comments from the would-be head of the Federal Reserve.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.1 per cent in early trade. Japan's Nikkei added 0.5 per cent, while Australia's main index rose 0.7 per cent.
The prospects for a US tax cut seemed to improve after Senate Republicans rammed forward their bill in a partisan committee vote that set up a full vote by the Senate as soon as Thursday, although details of the measure remained unsettled.
Republican leaders conceded that they have yet to round up the votes needed for passage in the Senate, where they hold a narrow 52-48 majority.
Some analysts, however, did warn of the risks of unintended consequences if the package was passed.
"Tax cuts will mainly boost the demand side of the economy at a time when the economy has little spare capacity," said Jeremy Lawson, chief economist at Standard Life Investments.
"For that reason, the package will primarily bring forward activity with most of the stimulus eventually offset by the Federal Reserve lifting interest rates more quickly."
Fed chair nominee Jerome Powell, in his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, said the case for a December rate hike was coming together, though he dodged comment on the tax proposals.
Powell also hinted at a lighter touch for bank regulation, saying current rules were already tough enough.
The S&P financial sector soared 2.6 per cent in reaction, its biggest daily gain since March 1.
That helped the Dow climb 1.09 per cent, while the S&P 500 rose 0.99 per cent and the Nasdaq or 0.49 per cent.
Adding to the good cheer was data showing U.S. consumer confidence surged to a near 17-year high in November, while home prices rose sharply in September, which should underpin consumer spending.
All of which helped the dollar regain some ground. Against a basket of currencies it was steady at 93.200 and off a two-month trough of 92.496 touched on Monday.
The US dollar likewise edged up to 111.57 yen and away from a 10-week low of 110.85, while the euro backed off to US$1.1846.
Sterling had been the major mover, rallying on media reports Britain and the EU have reached agreement on a Brexit divorce bill that might herald a breakthrough in the talks.
The pound was last changing hands at US$1.3363, having jumped from as low as US$1.3222 on Tuesday.
In commodity markets, palladium hit its highest since February 2001 as traders expecting higher demand from the automotive industry piled into the metal. Spot gold was little changed at US$1,293.81 an ounce Oil eased amid uncertainty over the outcome of Opec talks about extending price-supporting output cuts, combined with a surprise rise in crude inventories.
US crude eased 27 cents to US$57.73 in early trade, while Brent crude oil held at US$63.61 a barrel.
