Asian shares seen consolidating as investor fears ease

By Hideyuki Sano

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares are expected to consolidate gains on Tuesday as the Chinese currency and shares show signs of stability, oil prices rebound, and solid U.S. consumption data suggest last week's sell-off was overdone.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (MIAPJ0000PUS) was little changed in early trade.

Japan's Nikkei (N225) slipped 1.0 percent after it climbed 7.2 percent on Monday, its biggest daily gain since 2008 which recovered a large portion of its 11 percent slump last week - also its biggest since 2008.

On Monday, European stocks rose 2.9 percent (FTEU3), having shed nearly 10 percent over the last two weeks. U.S. financial markets were closed for a national holiday but globally-traded U.S. stock futures (ESc1) rose 1.5 percent.

"It is partly a reaction after such big falls last week. Solid U.S. data is also improving investor sentiment given that they are counting on U.S. growth to lead the global economy," said Hirokazu Kabeya, chief global strategist at Daiwa Securities.

U.S. retail sales data published on Friday showing firm growth allayed fears - at least for now - that the U.S. economy could be dragged into recession as growth stumbles in many parts of the world.

Sentiment on the U.S. currency also improved, with the dollar rising to 114.50 yen , recovering further from a 15-month low of 110.985 touched on Thursday.

The euro also eased to as low as $1.1128 on Monday , retreating from Thursday's 3 1/2-month high of $1.1377, and last stood at $1.1166.

The common currency was also driven lower by remarks from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi that the bank is ready to ease policy further in March.

Gold also fell 2.2 percent on Monday, its biggest fall in almost seven months, slipping further from Thursday's one-year peak of $1,262.90 per ounce as safe-haven buying in the precious metal in recent weeks was rolled back.

The yuan was little changed at 6.4457 to the dollar in offshore trade after the People's Bank of China (PBOC) on Monday set the midpoint rate at the highest level in over a month, easing worries about further devaluation.

Chinese mainland shares shrugged off the turmoil in global shares which occurred over the Lunar New Year holiday, with the Shanghai composite index <.SSEC> slipping just 0.6 percent.

Oil prices gained on news of a rare private meeting of top officials from the world's biggest oil producers spurred speculation of an eventual deal to tackle a deep supply glut.

Global benchmark Brent futures (LCOc1) rose to $34.01 a barrel, rising to their highest level in a week. U.S. crude futures (CLc1) also jumped back above $30.