Stocks struggle in subdued deals amid US holiday

Asian and European equities faltered Tuesday in muted trade, with Wall Street shut for the US Independence Day holiday.

Oil rebounded from losses the previous day, when key producers Saudi Arabia and Russia unexpectedly unveiled more output cuts in a bid to stabilise the market.

The dollar rose against the euro but fell against the yen, as investors awaited Wednesday's publication of minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent monetary policy meeting.

Friday's key US nonfarm payrolls (NFP) report will provide clues on the health of the world's biggest economy.

"European stocks are struggling for direction amid a light economic calendar and on thin volumes with the US markets closed for Independence Day," City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta told AFP. "We expect volumes to pick up again... ahead of Friday's NFP."

This week sees also minutes from the Federal Reserve's last rate-setting meeting.

Investors weighed signs of a slowing US economy against hopes that the Fed's interest-rate hiking cycle could be nearing its end.

Data showing a sharp drop in the central bank's preferred gauge of inflation for May fuelled a rally across equities in New York late last week and in Asia on Monday.

The readings followed a series of indicators suggesting the economy remained in good health, putting pressure on the Fed to keep tightening monetary policy.

Fed chairman Jerome Powell has warned more hikes are in the pipeline owing to still-elevated inflation and the strong labour market, though analysts question whether it will follow through with that.

"Central banks are keen not to overtighten due to the immense pressure past tightening has already put on households and businesses but after being so late to start the process, they desperately don't want to pause too soon and risk inflicting higher rates for longer which could be much more damaging again," said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam.

Wall Street limped to a positive close in a half-session on Monday, with traders winding down for the holiday.

In Asia on Tuesday, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Wellington, Taipei, Manila, Mumbai and Bangkok edged up, but Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul dipped.

Sydney got a lift from the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to leave interest rates unchanged, though the local dollar fell against the greenback.

Oil on Monday initially rallied after Riyadh and Moscow curbed production levels, but finished in the red.

While the cuts will mean tighter supplies, rising interest rates and the lingering threat of recession are weighing on demand expectations.

"The oil market continues to weigh up Russia and Saudi Arabia's production cuts against a deteriorating economic backdrop," Cincotta added Tuesday.

"After a decline in oil prices yesterday, the net impact of the surprise production cuts has been approximately zero, highlighting the market's concerns over the demand outlook."

Market analyst Michael Hewson at CMC Markets said that "with prices still struggling to push higher due to concerns over weaker demand, OPEC+ members are becoming increasingly worried about further falls in prices away from their own break-even prices."

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 7,519.72 points (close)