In Asian Equity Markets trading was subdued, with investors watching how U.S.-China trade talks progress on Friday. Greater China markets were subdued for the most part. The Shanghai Composite edged down 0.12 percent, while the Hang Seng Index declined 0.35 percent with financials weighing down the index. The Shenzhen Composite inched higher by 0.11 percent. The ASX 200 was down 0.5 percent, with losses seen in the heavily weighted financials sub-index. The Kospi fell 0.64 percent with declines seen in the autos and tech sectors. Index heavyweight Samsung Electronics, which resumed trade on Friday after a halt, lost 1.7 percent. Japan markets are closed on Friday for a holiday.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar held steady against a basket of currencies on Friday, having retreated from four-month highs on profit-taking, with the focus on whether U.S. jobs data will provide the spark for another push higher. The dollar has erased all its 2018 losses over the past few weeks on expectations the Federal Reserve will continue to raise interest rates while other central banks, including the European Central Bank, take longer to reduce stimulus. In emerging markets, the Argentina peso fell to a record low on Thursday despite a dramatic rate hike by the central bank, pointing to a lack of investor confidence in Latin America’s No.3 economy, which is blighted by one of the world’s highest inflation rates.

In Commodities Markets oil prices held steady on Friday after shedding earlier gains, as market jitters kicked in over the prospect of geopolitical risks from possible new U.S. sanctions against Iran. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were trading 1 cent lower at $68.42 per barrel. Brent crude oil futures were at $73.59 per barrel, down 3 cents, or 0.04 percent, from their last close after touching a intra-day high of $73.80 per barrel in early morning trading. Friday morning’s fluctuations came as investors sifted through the upcoming Iran sanction decision and an increasing U.S. crude inventory build for clues.

In US Equity Markets stocks ended lower on Thursday after a choppy session as strong economic data offset disappointing earnings reports from several companies. The S&P 500 lost 0.22 percent, to 2,629.74 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.18 percent, to 7,088.15. Shares of insurer American International Group Inc and drug distributor Cardinal Health Inc fell after the companies reported quarterly results. AIG, down 5.3 percent, and Cardinal Health, down 21.4 percent, were among the biggest drags on the S&P 500. Tesla Inc shares fell 5.5 percent after CEO Elon Musk cut off analysts asking about the company’s profit potential, despite promises that production of the troubled Model 3 electric car was on track.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields slid on Thursday, pressured by falls in Europe after a surprising decline in euro zone inflation that could constrain the European Central Bank’s efforts to unwind its monetary stimulus this year. Benchmark U.S. 10-year yields dropped to two-week lows, while those on two-year notes fell to a more than one-week trough after hitting a 9-1/2-year peak the previous session. U.S. benchmark 10-year yields fell to 2.947 percent from 2.964 percent late on Wednesday. U.S. 30-year bonds slid to 3.122 percent, from Wednesday’s 3.134 percent. U.S. two-year yields were also down at 2.484 percent, from 2.496 percent on Wednesday