Global stocks mixed on Wednesday

Global markets traded mixed on Wednesday as a noisy US jobs report failed to shift expectations for interest rate cuts.

Equities showed limited reaction to the nonfarm payrolls data, which showed a rebound in job growth in November but a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.6 per cent, the highest in more than four years. Analysts said the figures were distorted by data collection issues linked to the prolonged government shutdown, making it difficult to draw clear conclusions.

Asian stocks edged higher, with MSCI’s Asia Pacific index outside Japan up 0.35 per cent. Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.28 per cent, while China’s CSI300 rose 1.6 per cent and the Shanghai Composite advanced 1 per cent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.6 per cent. US and European equity futures pointed to a subdued open, while Wall Street ended the previous session mixed.

Markets continued to price in around two US interest rate cuts next year, with attention turning to Thursday’s US inflation data and upcoming policy decisions from major central banks.

Currency moves were muted, with the dollar edging higher against the euro at $1.1727 and sterling at $1.3383, while the yen weakened to 155.10 per dollar amid concerns over Japan’s fiscal outlook.

Attribution: Reuters