In Asian Equity Markets indices were  mixed in Friday morning trade, after the release of Chinese manufacturing data which came in far below expectations. Japan’s Nikkei 225 traded slightly lower while the Topix index shed 0.1 percent as shares of Fast Retailing advanced around 1.7 percent. Nintendo, however, dropped around 6 percent after the company cut its sales forecast for the Switch game console in the fiscal year ending March 2019. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.14 percent. In Australia, the ASX 200 fell 0.11 percent.

In Currency Markets the Australian dollar fell versus the greenback on Friday after a private survey showed factory activity in China shrank by the most in almost three years in January. The Australian dollar, often considered a barometer for global risk appetite, fell 0.4 percent to $0.7246. The kiwi was at $0.6907, down 0.2 percent versus the greenback. China’s gloomy factory readings have brought global growth worries to the fore again, which is likely to benefit safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese yen.

In Commodities Markets oil prices held steady on Friday, torn between hopes the United States and China could soon settle their trade disputes and new data raising fresh concerns over China’s economic slowdown. International Brent crude oil futures were at $60.87 per barrel at 0244, 3 cents above their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were at $53.70 per barrel, down 9 cents, or 0.2 percent their last settlement. Oil futures received support from a broader financial market rally recently.

In US Equity Markets indices rose on Thursday, with the S&P 500 wrapping up its biggest monthly increase since 2015 after strong earnings from Facebook Inc added to optimism. Facebook jumped 10.82 percent, its strongest daily rise since January 2016, after its quarterly profit topped expectations and showed that advertisers were still flocking to the social network even after a series of high-profile embarrassments. The S&P 500 gained 0.86 percent to end at 2,704.1 points, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.37 percent to 7,281.74.

In Bond Markets the 30-year Treasury yield fell below 3 percent on Thursday after manufacturing data disappointed and a measure of wage inflation came in weaker than expected, reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s suggestion it may need to pause before lifting borrowing costs further. The yield’s decline to below the 3 percent level was its first since Jan. 10, touching a daily low of 2.98 percent. The 10-year yield also fell and was last at 2.63 percent.