Asian markets edged higher on Friday as investors look ahead to the release of U.S. jobs data for June.
As of 9.30 hrs. local time in Thailand, the Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 1.36%, while South Korea’s Kospi added 1.11%
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.67%.
Mainland China’s Shanghai Composite increased 0.0.8%.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong gained 0.56%, with the Hang Seng Tech index rising nearly 2% in early trading.
Even so, according to DBS Chief Investment Officer Hou Wey Fook’s interview with CNBC, worries about inflation and a slowing economy remain.
“The risk out there, of course, would be the heightened inflation and on top of that, there is also the risk of impending recession,”
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release nonfarm payrolls statistics on Friday. According to a poll by Dow Jones, economists anticipate an employment gain of 250,000 in June. That’s lower than May’s gain of 390,000 jobs.
