Asian shares retreated from two-week highs on Thursday and China started on the backfoot on fears central banks were closer to considering winding back their emergency stimulus while the dollar held at a one-week top. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.5% at 691.76, still not too far from Wednesday’s high of 696.76, a level last seen on May 10. Australian shares were flat while New Zealand’s benchmark index stumbled 0.9%, extending losses for a second day in a row after the country’s central bank on Wednesday signalled rate rises from next year.
