Overnight gains in U.S. stocks underpinned Asian shares on Friday, but
prices were capped ahead of key U.S. jobs and Chinese trade figures due
later in the session, while the dollar hovered near a 3-1/2-year high
against the yen.
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U.S. stocks closed modestly higher on Thursday, with the Dow ending at a
record for a third straight day as jobless claims data pointed to a
pick-up in the labor market’s recovery a day before the closely watched
payrolls report.
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The dollar climbed 0.7 percent to 95.44 yen on trading platform EBS as
of 0318 GMT, its highest level against the yen since August 2009.
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The euro was at $1.3107, not far from a high of $1.3119 set overnight,
after Draghi played down the threat of contagion to other euro members
stemming from a political stalemate in Italy.
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The FTSE 100 closed up 11.52 points, or 0.2 percent, at 6,439.16, having
faltered at the 6,460 level – a five year high – for the second day
running.
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Prices for U.S. Treasuries fell on Thursday as a surprise drop in
jobless claims added to signs of a strengthening labor market, raising
hopes the world’s largest economy was gaining steam.
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