Asian shares were lower overnight ahead of a highly anticipated US jobs report that is expected to influence how the Federal Reserve will move on interest rates.
The Nikkei (^N225) fell 0.7% on the day in Japan, while the Shanghai Composite (000001.SS) was 0.8% down by the end of the session.
The Hang Seng (^HSI) was halted in Hong Kong due to an approaching typhoon.
It comes as the nonfarm payrolls report, due for release later this afternoon, will indicate how big of a cut to interest rates the Fed will deliver at its next meeting later this month.
After keeping its main interest rate at a two-decade high to stifle inflation, the Fed has hinted it is about to begin cutting rates to keep the economy from sliding into a recession.
Across the pond on Wall Street, the Dow Jones (^DJI) fell 0.5%, closing at 40,755.75, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) lost 0.3% ending at 5,503.41, and the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) managed to eke out a gain of 0.3% to 17,127.66.
In the bond market, the yield on benchmark US 10-year Treasury notes fell 3.729%, from 3.768% late on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland’s First and deputy First Ministers are to meet trade union representatives over protecting jobs at Harland and Wolff.The historic Belfast shi
Prime Minister announces £485 million of Italian investment into the UK following a meeting in Rome with Italian CEOs this morningHe also met his Italian cou
Prime Minister announces £485 million of Italian investment into the UK following a meeting in Rome with Italian CEOs this morning He also met his
Vinci stayed in the red last year at its UK business despite revenue at the group, which includes its building, FM and highways arms, breaking the £2bn mark. T