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Asian shares attempt to stabilise after international sell-off; concentrate on US information

Asian share markets tried to regain their footing on Thursday after a steep selloff, while a rally in Treasuries dented the dollar and lifted the yen as U.S. economic concerns raised the chances of the Federal Reserve going huge on rate cuts.

Oil prices were constant in early trading after dropping in the previous sessions on weak demand and supply concerns, while gold edged greater.

In a data-packed week, investors are poring over the reports dropping in to assess the health of the U.S economy and the labour market, with a weak production data on Tuesday and Wednesday's blended labour information keeping markets on edge.

Japan's Nikkei fell 0.5% to its lowest in three weeks, although tech-heavy Taiwan and South Korean stocks were both 1% higher after moving on Wednesday.

That helped lift MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan by 0.6%, having toppled nearly 3% over the course of a three-day losing streak.

Investor attention on Thursday will be on a reading on the U.S. services industry with jobless claims data. The main focus for the week though will be on Friday's hotly anticipated August report for nonfarm payrolls.

The payrolls report is expected to offer the clearest ideas regarding where the economy is headed and whether the Fed will cut rate of interest this month by a quarter or a half of a. percentage point.

Markets are now pricing in a 44% chance of the Fed cutting. rates by 50 basis points at its Sept. 17-18 conference, up from 38%. a day earlier, CME FedWatch tool showed. Traders are now. preparing for 110 bps of alleviating this year from the three. staying Fed meetings.

The current modification in markets expectations follows information. launched on Wednesday showed U.S. task openings dropped to a. 3-1/2- year low in July, recommending the labour market was losing. steam.

Ryan Brandham, head of international capital markets for North. America at Validus Danger Management, stated the data supports the. Fed's current shift to concentrating on the employment side of its. double required.

But this does not change our view that the dangers are skewed. towards the Fed cutting less, not more, than what is presently. priced in by the market.

San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said the Fed needs to. cut interest rates to keep the labour market healthy, however it is. now down to inbound economic information to identify by how much.

The odds of an economic contraction are now much less than. it was in 2015 as the Fed appears ready to react to any. dangers with deeper rate cuts if necessary, according to Vasu. Menon, handling director of investment strategy at OCBC.

What's likewise choosing the U.S. economy and the Fed, is the. loose monetary conditions which must support the economy and. permit the U.S. reserve bank to cut rates gradually and gradually. without panicking.

In the currency market, the dollar remained on the. defensive, with financiers fleeing risky assets looking for. safety. The Japanese yen was among the most significant. recipients and was last at 143.56 per dollar, having already. gained almost 2% for the week up until now.

The Swiss franc, likewise a conventional safe-haven. currency, steadied at 0.8461 per dollar.

Treasury yields were calm in early Asian hours on Thursday. after diving in the previous session.

Two-year note yields were last at 3.775% after. hitting 3.772% on Wednesday, the lowest since May 2023. Criteria 10-year note yields were last at 3.767%.

In commodities, Brent unrefined futures increased 0.45% to. $ 73.03 after dropping 1.42% in the previous session. U.S. West. Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 0.52% to $69.56. after moving 1.62% on Wednesday.

(source: Reuters)