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Asian shares set for very first weekly loss in 5, China stimulus considered

Asian shares were headed for their very first weekly loss in five on Friday as a sensational rally in Chinese shares took a breather, although all eyes are on the information of muchanticipated financial stimulus from Beijing this weekend.

European stock markets are set to open slightly greater, with EUROSTOXX 50 futures and FTSE futures both up 0.2%. French bond futures rallied 33 ticks, slightly ahead of a small bounce in U.S. bonds, as France planned tax walkings and spending cuts to control its deficit.

Wall Street futures were flat. Tesla unveiled the long-awaited showcase of

a self-governing taxi

in Los Angeles, which included excitement but couple of details on timing. Production is not set to start up until 2026.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose a subdued 0.3% on Friday but was still set for a weekly loss of 1.7% after four straight weeks of gains. The Nikkei, however, got 0.5%, bringing its weekly rise to 2.5%.

South Korean shares removed earlier gains and were last flat as the Bank of Korea's decision to begin its relieving cycle with a quarter-point move was extensively anticipated.

China's blue chips fell 1.8% on Friday and were down 2.3% for the week. Hong Kong's Hang Seng, which was closed for a public holiday on Friday, fell 6.5% for the week, the most significant weekly drop in 2 years.

Financiers' enthusiasm about China's economic stimulus announced last month has paved the way to concerns about whether the policy assistance would be big enough to revive development, putting the spotlight on whether the finance ministry will announce significant financial stimulus at a press conference on Saturday.

Ting Lu, primary China economist at Nomura, stated markets were laser-focused on the Saturday instruction.

As any particular numbers on the extra budget and bond quota will need the approval of the National Individuals's Congress or its Standing Committee, which is highly unlikely to satisfy before the instruction, the market is eager to know what else the MOF may provide, Lu stated.

Overnight, data revealed core U.S. customer inflation came in at 0.3% in September, slightly hotter than expected, pointing to stalling progress in the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation.

Nevertheless, high weekly unemployed claims figures kept bets intact that the Fed is still on track to cut rate of interest in November. Wall Street was a little lower overnight.

Oil, which got more than 3% overnight, fell slightly at the end of the week, with Brent futures slipping 0.3%. on Friday to $79.17 a barrel.

It was, however, still up 1.4% in the week thanks to a. spike in U.S. fuel usage before Cyclone Milton and Middle East. supply risks as investors brace for an Israeli response to an. Iranian rocket attack recently.

Treasuries rose on Friday, but are still set for weekly. losses as traders pared expectations for outsized U.S. rate. cuts. Atlanta Fed Bank President Raphael Bostic on Thursday told. the Wall Street Journal that he is open to a pause next month,. although other officials supported more gradual rate cuts.

Two-year Treasury yields are up 4 basis. points for the week to 3.9722%, while 10-year yields. climbed 8 bps to 4.0669%.

Traders still cost in an about 83% likelihood that the. Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points next month and a 17%. chance it would leave rates the same, according to CME's. FedWatch.

We believe the FOMC stays on track to continue its level. modification in policy rates with a 25bp cut in November. But our. projection for further reducing in December is now being challenged. by firm growth and inflation readings, stated analysts at. JPMorgan.

Currency market movements were controlled on Friday. The U.S. dollar is set for the second straight week of gains,. hovering near a two-month top against major peers.

The euro lost 0.4% today to $1.0934,. undermined by expectations that the European Reserve Bank is. practically particular to lower rates in both October and December.

Gold was last up 0.6% at $2,644.69 an ounce, holding. ground above the crucial $2,600 level.

(source: Reuters)