Asian stocks fell, US bond yields rose and a soaring dollar pushed to a two-decade high against the yen on Thursday as investors worried about the outlook for more rate rises ahead of a key meeting of the European Central Bank later in the day.

The yen hit a fresh 20-year low versus the dollar on Wednesday and slipped to a seven-year trough against the euro as traders awaited a European Central Bank meeting likely to leave Japan alone among peers in sticking to ultra-easy monetary policy.

Asia's stock markets edged lower on Tuesday, the yen hit a 20-year low and bond markets wavered as investors nervously awaited US inflation figures and central bank meetings in Australia, Europe and, next week, in the United States.

Asian shares steadied on Monday as US stock futures made cautious gains ahead of US inflation data later in the week, while the euro touched a seven-year top on the yen amid wagers of European Central Bank tightening.

The Japanese yen was on the back foot on Monday, ahead of a busy policy-focused week in which inflation will be in the spotlight with a major European Central Bank meeting and US consumer price data scheduled.

Asian share markets fell on Thursday on widespread investor worries over high inflation and the threat of recession, while oil prices slumped following a report of reassurances from Saudi Arabia over production.

Palm oil producers are finding sufficient buyers in Indonesia and abroad for whom sustainability is a minor consideration, which is limiting pressure on the sector to adopt environmental practices.

Improved insurance literacy among consumers is one way to capitalize on potential growth in Indonesia's insurance industry, which still lags behind its Southeast Asian peers.

Stocks wobbled and bonds fell in Asia, while the dollar rose on Tuesday after a hot inflation reading in Germany heightened nerves about the pace and scale of looming interest rate hikes.

The Brent crude futures contract for July, which will expire on Tuesday, was 0.4 percent at $119.90 a barrel at 0659 GMT.

Asian shares extended overnight global gains thanks to strong results from regional tech firms and US retailers, while investors also took comfort from Federal Reserve minutes showing a pause to its rate hikes is on the cards later this year.

The 5-year notes carry a coupon of 4.40%, while the 10-year notes have a 4.70% coupon, below the sovereign's initial price guidance.

Asian stocks came under pressure on Monday as persistent worries about inflation and rising interest rates dogged the global economic outlook and fresh selling in technology stocks weighed on Chinese markets.

China stocks rose on Friday after Chinese banks cut the benchmark reference rate for mortgages by an unexpectedly wide margin to revive the ailing housing sector and to prop up a slowing economy hit by severe COVID-19 outbreaks.

Safe-haven currencies, including the dollar, eased on Thursday, pausing for breath after big gains the previous session as Wall Street stocks tumbled amid mounting concerns that aggressive tightening by the Federal Reserve and other central banks could choke growth.

Asia's stock markets struggled to carry recent gains into a fourth straight session on Wednesday and the US dollar steadied, as nagging doubts about inflation and the drag from rate rises crept back in to the global growth outlook.

Asian equities were mostly up Friday following a tumultuous trading period on Wall Street, which rebounded at the close after investors calmed down about US policies to counter surging inflation.

The United States administration has vowed to take action to boost supplies of baby formula as President Joe Biden was slammed by Republicans for crippling shortages nationwide.

The dollar index rose to its highest level since Dec. 12, 2002.

With surging prices undermining wage gains and hurting American families, US President Joe Biden said Tuesday that fighting inflation is his top priority, but he may have limited tools to tackle the issue.

The cooling would come after Indonesian benchmark prices for nickel, aluminum and gold rose to all-time highs in April.

Asian shares tumbled to their lowest in nearly two years on Tuesday as investors shed riskier assets on worries about higher interest rates and their impact on economic growth, while the dollar held near 20-year highs.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.3 percent.

Asian shares tumbled on Friday while the US dollar and Treasury yields rose in a reversal of a day earlier after investors expressed concerns that rising interest rates could hurt global economic growth.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.52 percent, although trading was thin with Japanese and Korean markets closed for public holidays.

The dollar held firm at a 20-year high on Friday and was poised to score its best monthly gain in a decade, while the yen is down almost 7 percent in April and the euro dropped through $1.05 for the first time in five years.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2 percent on Friday.

Shares of some of Indonesia's leading palm oil plantation companies and the rupiah currency dropped on Thursday after the government shocked markets by making last-minute changes to an export ban to include crude palm oil and other refined products.

Share markets steadied on Thursday, taking comfort in technology earnings, though an energy crisis in Europe and China's lengthy lockdowns kept the mood cautious and have propelled the dollar close to 20-year highs, while the euro hit a five-year low.

Financial markets, already anxious about the prospects for aggressive US interest rate hikes, a spike in global inflation and the Ukraine war, were rattled this week over slowdown fears in China as Beijing stuck firm to stringent COVID-19 lockdowns.