Asia Pacific Markets Trade Mixed as US Jobs Data Indicates Less Possibility for Fed Rate Cuts

On Monday morning (10 June, 9:32 AM, GMT+7, Bangkok time), indices in Asia Pacific traded mixed after the US reported stronger-than-expected jobs data on Friday, with rising hiring and wage growth in May, supporting the projection of the Fed to not rush for rate cuts in a near term.

Investors also kept their eyes on the announcement of a slew of economic data coming this week, while Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets closed for a holiday on Monday.

 

Japan’s NIKKEI rose by 0.5% to 38,876.87, while South Korea’s KOSPI dropped by 0.79% to 2,701.03.

As for stocks in China, Shenzhen’s SZI decreased by 0.9% to 9,255.68.

 

Meanwhile, the US stock markets edged down on Friday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) contracted by 0.22% to 38,798.99. NASDAQ dipped by 0.23% to 17,133.13, and S&P 500 declined by 0.11% to 5,346.99. VIX slumped by 2.86% to 12.22.

 

As for commodities, oil prices settled lower on Friday as investors considered OPEC+ reassurances in light of the most recent U.S. jobs data, which tempered expectations of an imminent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Brent futures decreased 25 cents or 0.31% to $79.62 a barrel, and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slid 2 cents or 0.02% to $75.53.

This morning, Brent futures grew 17 cents or 0.21% to $79.79 a barrel, and the WTI gained 17 cents or 0.23% to $75.7 per barrel.

Meanwhile, gold futures decreased by 0.36% to $2,316.7 per Troy ounce.