Asian stocks little changed as worries ease over Brussels attacks

Banks and gold stocks are among the leading decliners.

In neighboring Australia, futures foreshadowed a 0.2 per cent gain in local stocks.

Iluka Resources said it will consider internal and external candidates to replace its chief executive David Robb, who plans to step down in the second half of 2016. Major Japanese carrier ANA fell 0.5 per cent, while Australia's flagship carrier Qantas Airways was down almost 0.3 per cent. HIS Co., a major Japanese travel company, slipped 2.3 per cent.

FTSE China A50 index futures advanced 0.2 per cent following a seventh day of gains in the Shanghai Composite Index.

KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average fell 46 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,577 as of 10:05 a.m. Eastern Time. The company's shares are down 0.4 percent. It was last at 1.9421 percent.

Kathmandu Holdings reported a turnaround to profit in the six months to January 31, reflecting strong sales of outdoor clothing and camping gear. Wall Street was poised for modest losses at the open with Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures both down 0.53 percent. That beat forecasts for a flat reading. following the 2.0 percent increase in the third quarter.

The dollar, which edged down in early trade as Asian investors reacted to news of the Brussels attacks, was helped by a rise in USA bond yields after Chicago's Federal Reserve president, seen as a policy dove, struck a bullish tone on the US economy.

Stocks had appeared to be headed for a down day early Monday. The overnight gains on Wall Street, higher crude oil prices and a softer yen boosted investor sentiment.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Travel and Leisure index fell 2.1 per cent, the top sectoral decliner, with shares in EasyJet, Ryanair, Accor, TUI and IAG down by 1.8 to 4.0 per cent. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 0.8 per cent at 1,329.22 points by 1054 GMT, while Belgium's benchmark share index fell 0.3 per cent.

Investors had their eye on the latest batch of company deal news and new data on housing that sent homebuilders broadly lower. Canon is declining 0.4 percent. Meanwhile, Taiheiyo Cement is losing nearly 3 percent and Sumitomo Heavy Industries is lower by more than 2 percent. In the banking space, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial is advancing more than 1 percent. The price of oil also veered lower at times, but ended higher. The new company, based in London, will be called IHS Markit. The sale will enable the company to fund the recall of its defective air bags.

Staples climbed 7.6 percent to lead all gainers in the S&P 500 index.

European markets fell, while traditional safe havens gold and government bonds firmed up as reports of the events in the de facto capital of the European Union unfolded. The euro was down to $1.1219 from $1.1242, while the dollar fell to 111.68 yen from 112.08.

Asian shares slipped on Wednesday, but held near 3 1/2 month highs hit earlier this week as investors took comfort from a brightening global economic picture, as they absorbed the shock of the suspected Islamic State suicide bomb attacks in Brussels. "Asia may be more resilient today, where cautious trading should prevail". The upcoming Easter holiday also contributed the lackluster performance.

The major European markets all ended Monday on the downside. Germany's DAX rose 0.4 percent, while the CAC-40 in France edged up 0.1 percent.

Source: Asian stocks little changed as worries ease over Brussels attacks