Asian shares soar

Asian shares surged and the dollar skidded on Thursday after minutes of the US Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting showed concerns about downside risks of a stronger dollar and the global economy. European shares were expected to take their cues from the gains, with financial spreadbetters predicting Britain's FTSE 100 to open 67 to 70 points higher, or as much as 1.1 per cent; Germany's DAX to rise 126 to 131 points, or as much as 1.5 per cent; and France's CAC 40 to gain 60 to 62 points, or as much as 1.5 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, which in the previous session, touched its lowest level since March, was up about 1.2 per cent in late afternoon trade. But Japan's Nikkei share average skidded 0.8 per cent as the dollar sank against Japan's currency, according to Reuters.