Asian shares held steady on Friday as investors awaited the US jobs report, which could impact the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision next month. The MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was flat, with Japan’s Nikkei dropping 0.9% and South Korea’s KOSPI slipping 0.5%.
US Jobs Report
The US payrolls report, due later in the day, is expected to show a rise of 80,000 jobs for July, with the unemployment rate forecast to hold steady at 4.2%. A strong jobs number could reinforce higher-for-longer pricing and put upward pressure on rates, while a soft payrolls report could lead to a dovish path.
Nasdaq futures were flat, while S&P 500 futures slipped 0.1%. European bourses are set for a lower open, with pan-region stock futures down 0.2%.
Oil Prices Rise
Tensions in the Middle East flared up again after Yemen’s Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia, a major oil supplier. Brent crude futures gained 1% to $83.38 a barrel, after jumping 3.8% overnight.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
