Asian stocks down as gold hits fresh high

Asian equities were down on Wednesday while gold extended its six-day rally after reaching a record high as investors sought safe havens following a selloff in equity and bond markets.

Bullion for immediate delivery hit a fresh record as Asia markets opened, climbing 0.4% to hit $3,546.96 an ounce.

Prices have risen 5% over the last six days, with traders nervous over the US Federal Reserve's future after President Donald Trump attempted to fire Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

"President Trump's return to the White House may have altered investor preference of safe havens," said Carol Kong of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

"Gold outperformed, gaining more than 30 percent year?to?date. The risk is the USD further loses its safe haven appeal if President Trump continues to undermine the independence of key US institutions, particularly the Federal Reserve," Kong said.

Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said bullion had become a "last resort" as bonds and equities stumbled.

"The dollar's ascent tightens global financial conditions just as tariff skirmishes in tech and chips resurface, ensuring Asia can't trade in isolation."

Meanwhile Tokyo stocks were dogged by political uncertainty at home, falling at the open after the number two in Japan's ruling party offered to quit on Tuesday over July's disastrous upper house election.

The broader Topix Index fell 0.5 percent to 3,067.11, with the Nikkei 225 down 0.3 percent to 42,165.54 as trade opened.

"Traders are seeing uncertainty building around the political outlook for Japan, which is jacking up volatility," Anna Wu, cross-asset investment strategist at VanEck in Sydney, told Bloomberg.

Key figures at around 0230 GMT

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.25 percent at 42,206.05
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1 percent at 25,534.44
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.6 percent at 3,837.61
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 45,295.81
Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1627 from $1.1640 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at 1.3365 at from $1.3394
Dollar/yen: UP at 148.87 from 148.37 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 86.99 pence from 86.92 pence
Brent North Sea Crude: FLAT at $69.13 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.8 percent at $65.64 per barrel