- Russian activist killed on front line in Ukraine
- Openda strike briefly sends Leipzig top of Bundesliga
- Goal-shy Man Utd have to 'step up', says Ten Hag
- India bowl out Bangladesh for 127 in T20 opener
- Madueke rescues Chelsea in draw with 10-man Forest
- Beckett's belief rewarded as Bluestocking storms to Arc glory
- Trump on the stump, Harris hits airwaves in razor-edge US election
- Flash flooding kills three in northern Thailand
- Kaur leads India to victory over Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cup
- Juventus held by Cagliari after late penalty drama
- In France's Marseille, teen 'stabbed 50 times' then burned alive
- Ruthless Gauff beats Muchova in straight sets to win China Open
- India restrict Pakistan to 105-8 in Women's T20 World Cup
- England target repeat of Pakistan Test whitewash
- Penrith Panthers win fourth straight NRL title after downing Storm
- Weary Sinner happy for day off after battling into Shanghai last 16
- Pakistan's Masood warns England still a force without Stokes
- Madrid's Carvajal to miss several months after serious knee injury
- Israel pounds Lebanon ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Two elephants die in flash flooding in northern Thailand
- Sabalenka targets world number one and Wuhan hat-trick
- Toddler among 4 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Tunisia votes with Saied set for re-election
- Bagnaia sets 'example' with Japan MotoGP win to cut gap on Martin
- Intense Israeli bombing rocks Beirut ahead of war anniversary
- Mozambique vote: no suspense but some disillusion
- Austrian rapper channels anti-racist rage in Romani hip-hop songs
- Ohtani magic powers Dodgers over Padres in MLB playoff thriller
- Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
- Man sets arm on fire as marches across US mark Gaza war anniversary
- Vietnam's young coffee entrepreneurs brew up a revolution
- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says 'very violent' Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Guardians maul Tigers, miracle Mets rally in MLB series openers
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Madrid beat Villarreal but Carvajal suffers knee injury
- Madrid beat Villarreal to move level with Liga leaders Barcelona
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- French rugby player on rape charge whistled but 'serene' on return
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Toddler among 3 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
Asian markets rebound from sell-off but US data keps traders wary
Asian markets bounced Thursday after the turmoil of the previous day as traders assess the outlook for US interest rate cuts after another set of below-par data put extra focus on the upcoming jobs report.
Equities on Wednesday endured the most tumultuous day since early August after a weak read on US factory activity combined with a collapse in tech firms to cause a rout across the board.
While some of the selling was put down to profit-taking, news that the manufacturing sector contracted for a fifth straight month revived worries that the world's top economy could tip into recession.
A big miss on labour creation in July was one of the catalysts for last month's bloodbath.
Figures on Wednesday showed job openings fell to their lowest level since the start of 2021, stoking the sense that the economy and labour market are not as strong as thought.
With the Fed widely expected to cut rates at its meeting next month, observers said the recent figures are making a strong case for a 50-basis-point reduction, as opposed to the 25 points largely expected.
"Given that September historically claims the title of the worst month for stock returns -- with August a close runner-up -- this seasonal swoon could just be par for the course," said analyst Stephen Innes.
"And yet, there’s always that lingering worry that the sharp pullback from near-record highs might signal something deeper. Enter this week's critical US employment report, coupled with (Wednesday’s job openings) data, which threw another wrench into the mix."
He pointed out that the job openings report also showed a downward revision for June, "adding to growing evidence that the US labour market is finally cooling."
"While that’s a positive in terms of easing wage pressures and keeping inflation in check, it also raises questions about the economy’s underlying strength."
While Wall Street struggled for a second day -- only the Dow ended in positive territory -- Asia mostly eked out gains though many markets drifted in and out through the morning.
Tokyo dipped as exporters were weighed by a strengthening yen, but Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Wellington and Manila all rose.
Still, Kelvin Wong at OANDA warned: "The hard-landing playbook narrative is back at the forefront as the market participants are 'fearful' that the US Federal Reserve has been late in enacting the interest rate cut cycle in the US.
"In turn, the higher beta (mega-cap technology and semiconductor stocks) were the worst performers as these groups of stocks have been leading in the US stock market since the start of 2024."
Dealers are keeping an eye on developments in China after a report said officials were considering cutting interest rates on more than $5 trillion of mortgages in a bid to support homeowners and ease pressure on the banking system.
- Key figures around 0230 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 36,917.44 (break)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 17,499.10
Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 2,970.70
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 143.61 yen from 143.72 yen on Wednesday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1080 from $1.1082
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3152 from $1.3147
Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.25 pence from 84.29 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.6 percent at $69.59 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.5 percent at $73.09 per barrel
New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 40,974.97 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 8,229.60 (close)
D.Moore--AMWN