STOCKS NEWS ASIA-Shares set for muted start as U.S. dips

WELLINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Asian shares are set for a
softer start on Tuesday, as Wall Street eased slightly after
investors booked profits following last week's solid rally.

The initial flush of optimism, which marked the New Year,
quickly receded on Wall Street as expectations of lower
earnings hit telecommunications and financial stocks.

But Japanese shares look likely to edge higher, adding to
Monday's strong gains, with Nikkei futures traded in Chicago
2NKc1 closing at 9,280, down 85 points but 210 points higher
than the Osaka futures JNIc1 close on Monday.

The U.S. dollar gained against the euro and the yen, as
investors were buoyed by a fiscal stimulus package proposed by
U.S. president-elect Barack Obama, and the prospect of further
interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank.

Crude oil prices rose 5 percent on fears over tensions in
the Middle East and between Russia and neighbouring Ukraine.

HEADLINES: > Wall St slips on telecom, financials; Apple
jumps [nN05391795] > US, Germany mulls tax cuts, U.S. autos
sales fall [nN05322720] > Obama seeks swift passage of U.S.
fiscal package [nN05273088] > Apple's Jobs reassures investors
about his health [nN05200877] > Gaza battle goes into night
despite truce calls [nL5700436] > US seeks to revoke Madoff
bail;judge delays ruling[nN05385198] > Oil rises 5 pct as
geopolitical concerns mount [nSP343684] > Russia reduces
gas flows to Europe via Ukraine [nL513944] > Tyson Foods
CEO leaves company; shares slump [nN05375385]

KEY INDEXES pct change

Bank of New York Asia ADR index 0.07

Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI -0.91

Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC -0.26

MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan .MSCIAPJ 2.66

Nikkei futures in Chicago 2NKc1 -0.91

Nikkei futures in Osaka JNIc1 N/A

ASIAN ADR ACTION:

5 most actively traded pct change

TSMC (TSM.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(2330.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) -1.95

Infosys Tech (INFY.O: Quote, Profile, Research)(INFY.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) 3.34

Mitsubishi UFJ (MTU.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(8306.T: Quote, Profile, Research) -0.48

Siliconware (SPIL.O: Quote, Profile, Research)(2325.TW: Quote, Profile, Research) 1.70

BHP Billiton (BHP.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) 0.11

Top 5 performers: pct change

Woori Fin Gp (WF.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(053000.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) 18.60

Webzen (WZEN.O: Quote, Profile, Research)(069080.KQ: Quote, Profile, Research) 11.63

Kookmin Bank (KB.N: Quote, Profile, Research)060000.KS 11.28

Shinhan Fin Gp (SHG.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(055550.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) 8.05

Yanzhou Coal (YZC.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(1171.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) 6.48

Bottom 5 performers: pct change

Lihir Gold (LIHR.O: Quote, Profile, Research)(LGL.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) -10.17

Wacoal Corp. (WACLY.O: Quote, Profile, Research)(3591.T: Quote, Profile, Research) -5.87

China Eastern (CEA.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(0670.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) -5.08

Internet Initiative(IIJI.O: Quote, Profile, Research)(3774.T: Quote, Profile, Research) -4.76

SK Telecom (SKM.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(017670.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) -4.63

TOP ASIA EVENTS:

For more Asian company earnings, see [ASIA/EQTY]

HONG KONG - Shanghai Electric Group Co Ltd (2727.HK: Quote, Profile, Research)

final results

STH KOREA - Finance Minister meeting on economy

(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)