Asian shares rose on Wednesday, Reuters reported. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.3 percent to near a recent one-month top. For the year so far, the index has surged about 32 percent thanks to stellar corporate earnings in a strengthening global economy. Pointing to a positive start for European and U.S. shares, FTSE futures inched up 0.2 percent while S&P e-mini futures and Dow minis were also a touch firmer. In forex markets, trading was thin with most major currencies muted. The euro was up 0.2 percent to $1.18780 and the dollar was barely changed at 113.19 yen. The Australian dollar hit a two-month high, becoming one of the best performing major currencies this year along with the euro and the British pound. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against other major currencies, is seen ending about 9 percent lower in 2017 as the reflation trade seen at the start of the year faded. It is down about 3 percent on the yen. In commodities, Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, gave back its gains on Wednesday to trade at $66.69 a barrel. U.S. crude was off 23 cents at $59.74 after climbing as far as $60.01. Spot gold stayed within a striking distance of a 4-week peak at 1,282 an ounce.
