Asia stocks off to cautious start Monday, US$ nurses scars

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.2%, though that was from a six-month top. Japan's Nikkei added 1.1% courtesy of a pullback in the yen, while South Korea shares eased 0.3%. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 dithered either side of flat.

SYDNEY: Asian shares and the dollar made a cautious start to the new month on Monday as U.S. lawmakers struggled to hammer out a new stimulus plan and a global surge of new coronavirus cases showed no sign of abating.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.2%, though that was from a six-month top. Japan's Nikkei added 1.1% courtesy of a pullback in the yen, while South Korea shares eased 0.3%.