In Asian Equity Markets Japanese stocks reversed course to trade lower on Thursday on concerns that a resurgence of COVID-19 infections would lead to an extension of restrictions, slowing economic recovery. The Nikkei index fell 0.41 percent to 28,674.52, while the broader Topix was down 0.34 percent to 1,936.88. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 0.12 percent lower. Chinese blue chips added 0.65 percent. Technology stocks led the Nikkei’s fall, with start-up investor SoftBank Group losing 1.41 percent and chip making equipment maker Advantest falling 1.7 percent.

In Currency Markets the dollar hit a fresh 15-month high versus the yen and hovered near multi-month peaks against other major peers on Thursday, ahead of a key U.S. jobs report that could offer clues on when the Federal Reserve will start to pare back stimulus. The U.S. currency rose as high as 111.165 yen for the first time since March 26, 2020, before trading essentially flat compared to Wednesday at 111.095. The euro edged down to $1.1851 after falling as low as $1.1845 on Wednesday for the first time since April 6. The Aussie dollar slid 0.2 percent to $0.7488.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 nabbed its fifth straight record closing high on Wednesday as investors ended the month and the quarter by largely shrugging off positive economic data and looking toward Friday’s highly anticipated employment report. The Dow rose 0.61 percent, to 34,502.51, the S&P 500 gained 0.13 percent, to 4,297.5 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.17 percent, to 14,503.95. Among the 11 major sectors in the S&P, six ended the session higher, with energy enjoying the biggest percentage gain. Real estate was the day’s biggest loser.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Wednesday, heading for monthly and quarterly gains, after U.S. crude stockpiles fell for a sixth straight week and an OPEC report foresaw an undersupplied market this year. The Brent crude contract for August ended the session up 0.5 percent at $75.13 a barrel. U.S. WTI settled up 0.7 percent, at $73.47 a barrel. Spot gold rose 0.4 percent to $1,768.78 per ounce, while silver rose 1.2 percent to $26.06 an ounce. Palladium was up 3.8 percent at $2,780.45 an ounce but was set for a second straight month of declines. Platinum gained 0.6 percent to $1,072.91 an ounce.

In European Equity Markets stocks ended lower on Wednesday as investors locked in gains after a five-month winning streak, with concerns over an eventual spike in inflation and the Delta variant of the coronavirus also pushing some money off the table. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed 0.8 percent lower at 452.84 points but rose 1.4 percent in June. Automobile stocks  were the worst performers of the day, shedding 1.9 percent. But the sector has raced past its peers this year with a more-than 25 percent increase. Healthcare stocks were the best performers in June, adding 6.7 percent.

In Bond Markets yields on longer-dated U.S. Treasuries fell on Wednesday to their lowest levels in more than a week as the market wound down 2021’s second quarter, while the amount of cash flooding into the Federal Reserve’s reverse repurchase operation set a new record high as it neared $1 trillion. The benchmark 10-year yield, which fell to its lowest level since June 21 at 1.438 percent, was last down 3.2 basis points at 1.4477 percent. The yield on 30-year bonds was last at 2.0701 percent. The two-year Treasury yield was last less than a basis point lower at 0.2486 percent.