TOKYO: Asian share prices opened a tad lower on Friday on mixed U.S. earnings reports and the euro held above two-year lows struck overnight after the European Central Bank held interest rates steady, though officials said a cut was certain in September.
Google parent Alphabet rose 8.4per cent, Intel Corp 5.6per cent and Starbucks 6.4per cent. Amazon , however, dipped 1.7per cent on its first profit miss in two years."Some capital goods makers have reported soft earnings but otherwise U.S. earnings have been generally good, partly because investors had already lowered their expectations," said Hitoshi Asaoka, senior strategist at Asset Management One.
ECB Officials told Reuters after the meeting that an interest rate cut in September appeared certain, while government bond purchases and a revamped policy message were also likely.The euro's overnight index swaps are pricing in a cut of more than 10 basis points in September.