{
  "id": 5477349,
  "title": "Asian shares climb ahead of US jobs data, Fed's Waller soothes bonds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/asian-shares-climb-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-feds-waller-soothes-bonds-5477349",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-04T02:33:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/asian-shares-climb-ahead-us-jobs-data-feds-waller-soothes-bonds-6362001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Asian markets surged on Friday as investors capitalized on a global rally prior to key US employment data, while bonds experienced some much-needed respite following a top Federal Reserve official's comments that eased concerns about rate hikes. The US dollar's decline bolstered the yen, which has climbed 2.6% this week, reaching 155.7 against the dollar and nearing the 155.2 level previously achieved after Tokyo and Washington's joint intervention in late July. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, speaking at a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker event, indicated some signs of disinflation from recent data, suggesting a possibility of holding interest rates steady at the upcoming policy meeting if further evidence reinforced this trend. Futures quickly adjusted the likelihood of a rate hike this month to just 50%, down from around 63% the previous day. The Fed Governor's remarks were seen as a response to a previous argument by another Federal Reserve official, Warsh, who had argued that there was little evidence of underlying inflation moving lower. Analysts at JPMorgan noted that Chair Warsh would likely deliver a hike if he advocated for it, but the absence of his support reinforced the view that the data-dependent majority would only consider a rate hike if compelling evidence emerged. In Asia, the MSCI's Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 1%, following gains on Wall Street, but this was not enough to offset earlier losses, leaving the index down 0.4% for the week. Japan's Nikkei gained 0.8%, while Chinese blue-chips rose 1%, and South Korea's KOSPI increased 1.1%. Wall Street futures and EURO STOXX 50 futures were flat as traders awaited the US payrolls report for August, with expectations centered on a rise of 56,000 jobs after a shock fall of 23,000 the previous month. The unemployment rate was expected to remain steady at 4.1%. Overnight US economic data showed an uptick in services sector activity and prices paid jumped to a three-year high, while the Fed's Beige Book survey indicated that economic activity edged up in recent weeks. Bonds found relief after the dovish comments from Waller, with Treasuries rallying, particularly the short-end, as the yield curve steepened on fading concerns of imminent rate hikes. Two-year yields remained at 4.3381%, down 5 basis points overnight, while ten-year yields were at 4.7620%, having fallen 3 basis points overnight, and 30-year yields were at 5.2433% after a 2 basis point drop overnight. Investors in longer-dated bonds remained cautious about inflation risks and the lack of progress in resolving the US-Iran conflict. Oil prices held near six-week highs, with Brent crude futures up 7% this week to $95.52 a barrel. The dollar faced limited support from higher yields, trading at 98.96 against its major counterparts, after slipping 0.6% overnight, leading to a weekly drop of 0.7%. The yen benefited from the weaker dollar, climbing 1.8% overnight as investors increased bets on a Bank of Japan rate hike this month. Markets now suggest a 75% chance of a September rate hike, while a hike by October is fully priced in, potentially leading to a larger increase or consecutive tightening. While a further round of price checks or intervention cannot be ruled out, they may also be pre-positioning for a softer-than-expected non-farm payrolls report later in the day and a hawkish meeting by the Bank of Japan in two weeks' time. Gold remained steady at $4,470 an ounce, having rallied 2% overnight but was expected to finish the week unchanged.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bloomberg",
        "title": "Asia Stocks to Gain as Fed Bets Cool, Dollar Drops: Markets Wrap",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/asia-stocks-to-gain-as-fed-bets-cool-dollar-drops-markets-wrap",
        "published": "2026-09-03T22:14:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Business Times - Companies & Markets",
        "title": "South Korea stocks gain as Asian equities climb and Fed bets cool",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/south-korea-stocks-gain-as-asian-equities-climb-and-fed-bets-cool",
        "published": "2026-09-04T01:29:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Business",
        "title": "Asian shares climb ahead of US jobs data, Fed's Waller soothes bonds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/asian-shares-climb-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-feds-waller-soothes-bonds",
        "published": "2026-09-04T02:33:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Jakarta Post",
        "title": "Asian stocks rally as traders pare rate bets ahead of jobs data",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/asian-stocks-rally-as-traders-pare-rate-bets-ahead-of-jobs-data",
        "published": "2026-09-04T02:56:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Asian shares climb ahead of US jobs data, Fed's Waller soothes bonds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/asian-shares-climb-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-feds-waller-soothes-bonds-5482242",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:10:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Asian shares climb ahead of US jobs data, Fed’s Waller soothes bonds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/asian-shares-climb-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-feds-waller-soothes-bonds-5485410",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:30:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "Asian stocks rally as traders pare rate bets ahead of jobs data",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/asian-stocks-rally-as-traders-pare-rate-bets-ahead-of-jobs-data-5482061",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:34:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}