While most global markets are struggling ahead of the U.S. jobs report, stocks in Japan surged on yen weakness
It was a mixed finish for stocks in Asia. On the positive side of the ledger was Japan's Nikkei, which jumped 1% as exporters rallied on a weaker yen. This followed recent comments from Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who said Tokyo is ready to respond "appropriately" to sudden yen appreciation. Also finishing higher was China's Shanghai Composite, adding 0.4%.
However,
fears of a U.S. interest rate hike, as well as a retreat in crude oil futures, weighed on other markets in the region. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.2% -- dragged lower by a nearly 7% post-earnings drop in shares of property developer Evergrande -- while South Korea's Kospi gave up 0.3%.
Across the pond, European markets are on both sides of breakeven, in anticipation of the
U.S. nonfarm payrolls report this Friday. Traders are also reacting to unchanged readings in eurozone inflation and unemployment. At last check, London's FTSE is off just 0.06%, despite a relative improvement in consumer confidence levels, while the German DAX is 0.1% lower. Trekking upward is the French CAC 40, adding 0.7% following Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron's surprise resignation.
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