Asian markets edge up ahead of US jobs data; Hong Kong's Hang Seng marginally lower; oil slips
Asian shares traded mostly higher on Friday as investors awaited a crucial update on the US job market, which could provide fresh signals on the health of the world's largest economy.
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rose 0.5% to 37,730.67, while South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.5% to 2,812.05.
While, Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.4% to 23,817.10, and China's Shanghai Composite edged up 0.1% to 3,385.91.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia remained stable at 8,536.40. US futures showed slight gains whilst oil prices decreased.
Wall Street's main indexes closed lower as Tesla shares dropped over 14% following a public clash between Elon Musk and President Trump, shaking investor confidence.
The stock has lost nearly 30% this year due to tensions between Musk and Trump over a key tax and spending bill.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 decreased 0.5% to 5,939.30, ending its three-day winning streak. The index, crucial for numerous retirement accounts, lost momentum after a strong performance in May.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average reduced by 0.3% to 42,319.74, whilst the Nasdaq composite declined 0.8% to 19,298.45..
The US Labour Department is set to release job data for May, with Wall Street expecting a slowdown in hiring compared to April. A strong job market has helped support the US economy, but uncertainty over President Trump's shifting tariff policies may cause businesses to hold back on hiring.
Meanwhile, a report on Thursday showed more Americans filed for unemployment benefits than expected, reaching the highest level in eight months—though still low by historical standards.
Markets remained cautious despite signs of easing tensions with Beijing, as investors remain wary of unpredictable US tariff moves under Trump.
The yield on the 10-year US Treasury was stable at 4.40% on Thursday, slightly up from 4.37% the day before. Yields had dropped sharply on Wednesday amid growing expectations that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates later this year to support the economy.
In early Friday trading, US benchmark crude slipped 21 cents to $63.16 per barrel, while Brent crude fell 18 cents to $65.16.
Currency movements were mixed: the US dollar rose to 143.77 yen from 143.49, while the euro dipped to $1.1438 from $1.1448.
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