Asian Stocks Bounce Ahead of Key US Jobs Data and Fed Commentary
Asian stocks and government bonds rose on Thursday as investors pulled back from a recent sell-off ahead of key US jobs data and central bank commentary. The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.5%, building on modest gains in US equities the day before.
The benchmark US 10-year Treasury yield slipped roughly 1 basis point to 4.784%, after touching 4.818% on Wednesday, its highest since November 2023. Traders have sharply raised the odds of a Fed rate increase at the September meeting, with futures pricing now implying a 64.2% probability of at least a quarter-point hike.
New York Fed President John Williams said rising long-term yields reflect a solid economy rather than inflation fears. The labor market has shown signs of cooling, but investors remain concerned that inflation remains sticky.