Asian shares ease as growth fears persist

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian shares mostly slipped on Monday and the safe-haven dollar rose as concerns about faltering global growth and Europe's intractable debt crisis continued to sap investor confidence, but Japanese stocks were supported by a weaker yen.

By Chikako Mogi TOKYO (Reuters) - The Nikkei entered bear market territor

The euro climbed against the dollar on Tuesday as investors shrugged off news of slumping German investor confidence and looked ahead to a key speech by US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.Gold scored a fresh record high as it shot above $1,900 an ounce for the first time, with traders snapping up the safe-haven precious metal on concerns over high debt levels in the eurozone and United States.In London, the euro rose to $1.4452, from $1.4356 late in New York on Monday. The dollar eased to 76.63 yen from 76.78 yen after striking a record low at 75.95 yen last Friday.

Emerging markets risk an interest rate shock once the U.S. Federal Reserve and other Western authorities start to withdraw global liquidity, the World Bank has warned. “There is the risk that the transition to higher rates occurs in an abrupt and disruptive fashion. In such a scenario, markets react pre-emptively, potentially trapping some participants in vulnerable positions that appeared manageable under low interest rates.”

LONDON — Investors seized on clear signs of policy support from Japanese and European central banks on Tuesday, driving world shares higher and denting appetite for safe-haven German bonds. Heightened expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will soon taper its stimulus programme and a rebound in Japanese stocks saw the dollar strengthen by 1.3% against the yen, its biggest one day gain in nearly three weeks.

MSCI Asia Pacific index, Nikkei 225 and Hang Seng lower as fears continue over faltering global growth