Asian Stocks Rise, Treasuries Fall After Jobs Data: Markets Wrap

7)i09ovgavazgf1hi3osumc5_media_dl_1.png BloombergArticle content(Bloomberg) — Asian equities advanced for a fifth day, stretching their lead over US peers this year as relatively cheap valuations and firmer growth prospects lured buyers. Treasuries extended their losses after stronger US jobs data.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4% to a record. The gauge is up around 13% so far this year, its best start to the year relative to the S&P 500 this century, as the region’s assets head for another strong year. Japanese shares advanced as markets returned after a holiday.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentTreasuries dropped with the yield on the 10-year bond rising to 4.18% as traders pared bets on interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year following the jobs numbers. The latest data showed 130,000 roles added in January, twice the median forecast, as money markets priced in the Fed’s next cut in July, from June previously.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentThe moves signaled that for now, strength in the US economy counterbalances the desire for lower borrowing costs, supporting risk sentiment that has itself taken a battering over AI concerns in recent weeks. The next key hurdle for markets is Friday’s US inflation report, which could reinforce the case for keeping rates higher for longer if price pressures fail to ease.Article content“The report will ease concerns around the consumer,” wrote Krishna Guha at Evercore, referring to US jobs data. “It pours cold water on the idea the Fed could cut rates again before mid-year and will fuel internal debate as to how restrictive policy is and how much slack there is in the labor market.”Article contentThe S&P 500 ended Wednesday flat after a bumpy session with real estate services stocks getting hit, while the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.3%. In late hours, Cisco Systems Inc. gave a tepid margin forecast, overshadowing a generally positive outlook fueled by artificial-intelligence gains. McDonald’s Corp.’s US sales grew at the fastest pace in more than two years.Article contentArticle contentElsewhere, gold and silver edged lower, while Bitcoin declined to trade around $67,000. The dollar held its losses, benefiting the yen, which touched a two-week high. Article contentIn commodities, oil rose as tensions in the Middle East outweighed concerns that there’s a supply glut growing. Nickel extended gains after Indonesia signaled a sharp cut to output this year, curbing supply from the world’s biggest mine.Article contentConcerns about rising unemployment that led to three rate cuts late in 2025 — before a pause in January — were likely eased by Wednesday’s data. At last month’s policy meeting, Fed officials had already cited signs of stabilization as a reason to hold rates steady.Article contentUS payrolls rose in January by the most in more than a year and the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell, suggesting the labor market continued to stabilize.Article contentElsewhere, the Canadian dollar was little changed after the Republican-led US House passed legislation aimed at ending President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada.Article contentCorporate Highlights:Article contentApple Inc.’s long-planned upgrade to the Siri virtual assistant has run into snags during testing in recent weeks, potentially pushing back the release of several highly anticipated functions.Cisco Systems Inc. gave a weaker-than-expected forecast for profitability in the current quarter, spurring concerns that mounting memory-chip prices are taking a toll on the company.McDonald’s Corp.’s US sales grew at the fastest pace in more than two years in the fourth quarter as value meals continued to resonate with cost-conscious diners.Grab Holdings Ltd. predicted full-year revenue that trailed estimates, a sign of strain in a Southeast Asian ride-hailing and food-delivery market pressured by weaker consumer sentiment.Trending BlackBerry cofounder Michael Lazaridis invests in Vancouver-based AI startup Innovation Trump privately weighs quitting CUSMA trade deal he negotiated Economy How Canada's nation-building push could still get stuck in regulatory limbo Mining Subscriber only. These are the TFSA and RRSP tricks that can make you a fortune Subscriber only Personal Finance The problem of the Toys 'R' Us $36-million gift card mountain Retail & Marketing Article contentSome of the main moves in markets:Article contentStocksArticle contentS&P 500 futures were little changed as of 9:19 a.m. Tokyo timeHang Seng futures were little changedJapan’s Topix rose 0.4%Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5%Euro Stoxx 50 futures rose 0.5%Article contentCurrenciesArticle contentThe Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changedThe euro was little changed at $1.1873The Japanese yen was little changed at 153.17 per dollarThe offshore yuan was little changed at 6.9063 per dollarThe Australian dollar was unchanged at $0.7127Article contentCryptocurrenciesArticle contentBitcoin fell 0.6% to $67,349.76Ether fell 0.8% to $1,953.25Article contentBondsArticle contentThe yield on 10-year Treasuries was little changed at 4.18%Japan’s 10-year yield declined four basis points to 2.235%Australia’s 10-year yield advanced three basis points to 4.79%Article contentCommoditiesArticle contentWest Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.5% to $64.96 a barrelSpot gold fell 0.5% to $5,060.34 an ounceArticle contentThis story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.Article contentShare this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. BlackBerry cofounder Michael Lazaridis invests in Vancouver-based AI startup Innovation Trump privately weighs quitting CUSMA trade deal he negotiated Economy How Canada's nation-building push could still get stuck in regulatory limbo Mining Subscriber only. These are the TFSA and RRSP tricks that can make you a fortune Subscriber only Personal Finance The problem of the Toys 'R' Us $36-million gift card mountain Retail & Marketing