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REFILE-Stocks increase in tense trade, concentrate on Middle East and jobs data

International stocks rose on Friday while oil rates were headed for their greatest weekly gain in two years, as escalating tensions in the Middle East kept markets on edge. With the all-important month-to-month U.S. nonfarm payrolls report simply hours away, financiers were reluctant to drive any asset costs too hard in one direction or another.

The payrolls report might prove crucial in setting the path of financial policy in the coming months. Traders have currently reeled in their larger bets on another outsized rate cut in November from the Federal Reserve.

Including a note of optimism was a rally in Hong Kong stocks on the back of China's huge

stimulus

steps. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures added on 0.1%, suggesting shares on Wall Street might edge greater later on. Oil rates have risen 8.6% today, set for their greatest weekly gain considering that early October 2022's 11.3% weekly gain, as flaring tensions in the Middle East raise the threat of major interruptions to international crude supply. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the U.S. was discussing strikes on Iran's oil centers, when asked whether he would support Israel's strikes in retaliation for Tehran's. rocket attack on Israel. Biden's remarks sparked a surge in oil prices, which had. currently been on the increase today. Brent crude futures increased 0.7% to $78.17 a barrel, while. U.S. futures gained 0.7% to trade at $74.24.

Equities traded with caution, as did currencies. The MSCI. All-World index was up 0.1%, while Europe's. STOXX 600 increased 0.2%.

I do wonder whether there maybe a bit of caution heading. into the weekend. Is anyone really going to wish to hold huge. positions entering? City Index market strategist Fiona Cincotta. said.

As far as the data is concerned, it's ticking over perfectly. - not too hot, not too cold. However there is that lingering and. looming issue over what might happen in the Middle East and. that may (limitation) any strong reaction to an encouraging. payrolls number.

Japan's

Nikkei, which increased 0.2% on Friday, was set for a. weekly loss of about 3%.

Japanese stocks have had a choppy few sessions today as. investors weighed rising geopolitical tensions against the. domestic rate outlook. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said today that economic. conditions in the nation were not ripe for more rate hikes by. the Bank of Japan (BOJ), reversing the hawkish tone he struck. prior to his election triumph. The comments, paired with more dovishness from other authorities,. sent the yen weakening past the 147 per dollar level, although. it did trade 0.45% higher on Friday and last stood at 146.29 per. dollar.

Still, the Japanese currency was headed for a weekly fall of. 2.8%.

Meanwhile, U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports started. reopening on Thursday night after dockworkers and port operators. reached a wage deal to settle the market's greatest work. blockage in almost half a century.

This struck the shares of

shipping companies

in Asia and Europe, which slid on the possibility of freight. charges - which had leapt when the strike started - resuming. their downward trend.

ECONOMIC STRENGTH

The dollar hovered near a six-week high ahead of the. payrolls report that might choose the course of interest rates. Expectations are for the U.S. economy to have actually added 140,000 jobs. last month, a little below August's 142,000 boost.

Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was last. at 101.87. A slew of information releases today pointed to a U.S. economy. still in solid shape, indicating investors will put additional focus. on Friday's payrolls information. The U.S. services ISM beat strongly on the advantage, exceeding. all projections. It definitely indicates a robust U.S. economy,. Alvin Tan, head of Asia FX technique at RBC Capital Markets,. said. Our base case presumption stays that the U.S. labour. market is normalising rather than faltering.. The euro was little changed at $1.1028, though it was. set for a weekly drop of 1.2%. Sterling rose 0.2% to. $ 1.3159 after Bank of England primary economic expert Huw Tablet stated high. rate of interest were not an essential factor for weakness in British. business investment.

The pound staged a 1% fall on Thursday after Governor. Andrew Bailey was priced estimate as saying the BoE might end up being a bit. more activist on rate cuts if there is even more good news on. inflation.

Elsewhere, spot gold increased 0.34% to $2,665.15 an. ounce.

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(source: Reuters)