In Asian Equity Markets Japan’s Nikkei index was nearly flat on Thursday morning after hitting fresh two-year highs in the previous session, while investors await major economic data such as U.S. jobs report due later this week. The Nikkei was flat at 20,624.61 in midmorning trade after opening a tad higher. The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 shed 0.1 percent to 1,683.16.   Australian stocks ticked up 0.2 percent. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan was almost flat with Hong Kong and South Korea, as well as mainland China, closed for public holidays.

In Currency Markets the dollar inched up against a basket of its peers on Thursday after data shed more positive light on the U.S. economy, although sagging Treasury yields tempered the greenback’s gains. The euro was a shade lower at $1.1757 after gaining about 0.1 percent overnight.  After touching 112.920 yen early in the day the dollar was effectively flat at 112.740 after falling to as low as 112.320 on Wednesday. The Australian dollar was down 0.4 percent at $0.7832 after data showed the country’s retailers suffered their worst sales decline since early 2013 in August. The dollar index against a group of six major currencies was 0.05 percent higher at 93.500.

In Commodities Markets oil prices were stable on Thursday on expectations that Saudi Arabia and Russia would extend production cuts, although record U.S. exports and the return of supply from a Libyan oilfield dragged on the market. Brent crude futures were at $55.83 per barrel, up 3 cents from their previous close. In the United States, West Texas Intermediate crude futures remained weaker than Brent, trading at $49.95 per barrel, down 3 cents from their last close. That came after the EIA said late on Wednesday that U.S. crude oil exports jumped to 1.98 million bpd last week, surpassing the 1.5 million bpd record set the previous week.  Spot gold was steady at $1,274.50 an ounce and silver was flat at $16.58 an ounce.

In US Equity Markets  stocks edged up to extend their run of record closing highs on Wednesday as data on the services sector added to signs of strength in the economy and prospects for earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.09 percent, to end at 22,661.64, the S&P 500 gained 0.12 percent, to 2,537.74 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.04 percent, to 6,534.63. Shares of Netflix helped lift the S&P 500, rising 2.9 percent, after UBS raised its price target on the company. Wells Fargo was down 1.1 percent after the bank said it would refund some mortgage rate lock extension fees. Shares of Mylan rose 16.2 percent after U.S. regulators approved its copycat version of Teva’s blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury debt yields drifted higher on Wednesday after a measure of U.S. services sector activity hit a 12-year high, offsetting some concerns about an upcoming payrolls report. In late trading, the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield was at 2.333 percent, up from 2.332 percent late on Tuesday, while the 30-year yield was at 2.877 percent, compared with Tuesday’s 2.872 percent. U.S. two-year note yields were up slightly at 1.479 percent.

Economic Calendar

• 13:30 GMT+1 CAD Trade Balance
• 13:30 GMT+1 US Unemployment Claims
• 14:10 GMT+1 US FOMC Member Powell Speaks