- As traders pondered the potential for inflation and growth, Asian stocks followed their US brethren higher on Friday ahead of a major jobs data.
- Stocks in Japan, Korea, and Australia gained, while futures in the US varied. The S&P 500 gained 1.8% on Thursday, boosted by consumer discretionary stocks, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 gained 2.8%.
- Markets in Hong Kong and China are closed, with officials vowing to use a host of government programmes to bolster the economy. Despite light trade in Asia, the offshore yuan climbed.
- After overnight losses, a gauge of the dollar index stabilised, while the yen maintained at the psychologically key 130 level against the greenback. Benchmark treasury yields rose to 2.92%.
