In Asian Equity Markets Chinese stock indexes sank amid broad-based losses on Friday as mixed economic data raised some concerns over the timing of an economic recovery this year, while broader Asian markets rose cautiously in anticipation of key U.S. nonfarm payrolls data. China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes sank 1.7 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively. Other Asian tech-heavy indexes also lagged, with the Taiwan Weighted index up 0.1 percent, while South Korea’s KOSPI added 0.5 percent.

In Currency Markets the euro and sterling fell against the dollar on Friday as markets took a dovish cue from policymakers at the European Central Bank and the Bank of England, who said inflationary pressures in their economies have become more manageable. The pound slid to a more than two-week trough of $1.2203 in Asia trade and was last 0.04 percent lower at $1.2219. The euro edged 0.12 percent down to $1.0897. The Aussie fell 0.11 percent to $0.7068, having lost 0.86 percent on Thursday, while the kiwi gained 0.05 percent to $0.6479. The U.S. dollar index rose 0.02 percent to 101.81.

In US Equity Markets the Nasdaq and S&P 500 ended higher on Thursday and touched roughly five-month highs as a more dovish-than-expected message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell boosted equities and Meta Platforms shares rose on rigorous cost controls. The Dow fell 0.11 percent, to 34,053.94, the S&P 500 gained 1.47 percent, to 4,179.76 and the Nasdaq Composite added 3.25 percent, to 12,200.82. The energy sector, one of last year’s standout performers, fell 2.5 percent, while healthcare fell 0.7 percent.

In Commodities Markets oil prices settled lower on Thursday as U.S. industrial-linked factory orders fell, while the dollar strengthened, making crude more expensive for non-American buyers. Brent crude futures settled at $82.17 a barrel, shedding 0.8 percent. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled at $75.88 a barrel, down 0.7 percent. Spot gold fell1.8 percent to $1,915.79 per ounce. Elsewhere, spot silver fell 1.8 percent to $23.55 per ounce, platinum jumped 1.8 percent to $1,021.98 while palladium was down 1 percent to $1,652.64.

In European Equity Markets stocks hit their highest level in nearly a year on Thursday, as hawkish messages from the ECB failed to derail investor hopes the global rate hiking cycle was close to an end. A widely watched gauge of euro zone stocks closed up 1.8 percent at its highest since Feb. 18 last year, while the broader STOXX 600 index rose 1.4 percent. London’s blue-chip FTSE 100 rose 0.8 percent while Germany’s DAX index jumped 2.2 percent. Rate-sensitive real-estate stocks were the top gainers on the STOXX 600 on Thursday, up 6.8 percent, while technology stocks hit their highest since March.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Thursday as investors digested a more dovish tone from the Federal Reserve and prepared for a closely watched jobs report on Friday. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was flat at 3.398 percent. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was little changed at 3.552 percent. The U.S. two-year yield was down 1.4 basis points at 4.093 percent.