Asian Stocks Rise Before US Payroll Data – Asia Market Wrap

Asian equities rose somewhat ahead of a US jobs report, with investors anticipating new data after recent prints indicated that Trump’s trade war was harming the US economy.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index edged up 0.2%. Equity-index futures in the US climbed 0.1% after the S&P 500 finished at another record high Wednesday, aided by Trump’s announcement of a trade agreement with Vietnam. Gold fell 0.2%, marking its first decline in four days.

Treasuries rose little on Thursday. Yields climbed in the previous session after substantial selling in the UK, where fears regarding Chancellor Reeves’ future revived debate about the country’s fiscal status. In Japan, investors snapped up 30-year government bonds at an auction, signalling that officials are making some progress in reducing debt-market volatility.

The cross-asset moves emphasised cautious optimism as traders deal with pockets of uncertainty ahead of jobs data, which will help determine the route forward for interest rates. With stocks at a record high despite Trump’s increased trade concerns, investors are keenly scrutinising economic data before adding to their portfolios.