{
  "id": 5504209,
  "title": "Shares rally ahead of US jobs data, Fed's Waller soothes bonds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/shares-rally-ahead-of-us-jobs-data-feds-waller-soothes-bonds",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-04T02:33:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Business",
    "slug": "cna-business",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/shares-rally-ahead-us-jobs-data-feds-waller-soothes-bonds-6362001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Asian shares followed Wall Street's gains as the U.S. jobs data loomed, while bonds experienced a brief respite after a Federal Reserve official reduced rate-hike expectations. The dollar's decline boosted the yen, which was expected to rise 2.3% weekly, its best performance since late July when Japan and the U.S. jointly intervened to halt its slide. European stocks anticipated a higher opening bell, with a pan-continental index up 0.1%. Futures for the Nasdaq and S&P 500 rose slightly. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, speaking at a Reuters event, noted signs of disinflation and hinted that he would prefer to keep rates steady at the upcoming policy meeting if further reports supported the trend. Waller's remarks eased concerns about a rate hike this month, with expectations dropping from about 63% to just 50%. Analysts from JPMorgan noted that Waller's speech reinforced the belief that Chair Jerome Powell would only hike rates if he advocated for it. In Asia, MSCI's Asia-Pacific index outside Japan climbed 1.5%, offsetting earlier losses, and was up 0.1% for the week. Japan's Nikkei gained 1.4%, while China's blue-chips rose 4%, and South Korea's KOSPI increased 2%. Software companies saw a boost on Wall Street after a strong forecast from Snowflake, which saw its shares soar 16.6%. Traders anticipated the U.S. August payrolls report, with expectations centered on a rise of 56,000 jobs, matching the previous month's shock fall of 23,000. The unemployment rate was expected to stay at 4.1%. Overnight, U.S. economic data showed a pick-up in services sector activity and prices paid jumped to a three-year high. The Beige Book survey also indicated economic activity rose recently. Bonds appreciated after Waller's comments, with the short-end leading as the yield curve steepened. Two-year yields stayed at 4.3348%, down 5 basis points from the previous night, while 10-year yields remained flat at 4.7581%, and 30-year yields ticked down 2 basis points to 5.2370%. Investors remained cautious about inflation risks, especially with little progress seen between the U.S. and Iran to resolve the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices hovered near six-week highs, with Brent crude futures up 7% this week to $95.52 a barrel. The dollar fell, trading at 99 against its major peers after slipping 0.6% overnight. This decline, coupled with lower yields, helped the yen, which was set to rise further as traders bet on a Bank of Japan rate hike this month. Markets now suggest a 75% chance of a September rate hike, with a hike by October already priced in.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}