- Asian stocks fell alongside their US counterparts as traders weighed the economic threat of virus restrictions against optimism about vaccine efficacy.
- Equity markets in Asia suffered minor losses. US futures rose on Thursday after benchmarks ended a three-day rally amid losses in the consumer discretionary and real estate sectors.
- Treasury yields were little changed, having pared an overnight rally following a disappointing sale of 30-year bonds.
- Oil remained stable at around $71 per barrel, and bitcoin recovered some of its losses. The dollar maintained its overnight gains.
- China's markets are under scrutiny following the official default of China Evergrande Group and Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. on their dollar debt. Evergrande's stock dropped about 2%. The trading of Kaisa's shares in Hong Kong has been halted.
- A day after policymakers raised their foreign currency reserve requirement ratio for the second time this year, China's central bank took additional steps to limit the yuan's strength, setting a weaker reference rate than expected. The offshore yuan recovered from earlier losses to edge higher.
