HONG KONG, Nov 9 (AFP): Japanese stocks ended the day in the red as it suffered a sharp reverse in afternoon trade after hitting fresh 26-year highs, with most other Asian markets also falling on Thursday.
The Nikkei had ploughed two per cent higher in the first session, supported by broad optimism in the global economy and healthy corporate results that have helped fuel a run across global equities.
However, analysts said investors had decided the rally was running a little too hot -- Tokyo has piled on more than 20 per cent since early September -- and turned sellers in the afternoon.
The index closed down 0.2 per cent, having fallen as much as 1.7 per cent at one point in afternoon trade.
Seoul also ended down, losing 0.1 per cent, Singapore shed the same amount in the afternoon, while Wellington, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta were all lower.
However, Shanghai closed 0.4 per cent higher while Hong Kong was 0.8 per cent up, with traders cheering forecast-beating inflation figures from China that provided fresh hopes the huge economy is stabilising. Sydney was up 0.6 per cent. The dollar also suffered an afternoon retreat after holding up against its major peers.
Dealers were keeping tabs on Trump's tax plans as Senate and House Republicans remain at odds over some issues including when cuts should be introduced and the target for the national deficit increase.
"We are seeing parts of the package jettisoned already and overnight House Speaker Paul Ryan seemed to offer an olive branch to the Senate's version of the plan which appears to call for a delay in the implementation phase," McKenna said.
However, Shane Chanel, equities and derivatives adviser at ASR Wealth Advisers, cautioned: "I fear that in a desperate bid to have this pushed through, there could be risks that the policy changes (are) watered down further as a compromise for this (being) implemented immediately.
"The market has priced in the tax reforms influence, and delays or significant changes to the proposals will lead to a typical market tantrum."
On oil markets, prices edged up after a drop on Wednesday fuelled by figures showing a rise in US stockpiles.
However, tensions in the Middle East are keeping dealers on their toes following Saudi Arabia's claim of "direct military aggression" by Iran over a Yemeni rebel missile attack near Riyadh.
There was little movement after news China and the United States had signed more than $250 billion in business deals including $37 billion worth of planes from Boeing as Donald Trump held talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.
