Asian Markets Edge Higher Amid U.S. Jobs Report Anticipation; Vietnam Trade Deal Boosts Sentiment
Asian equities showed modest gains as investors awaited Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls data. The MSCI Asia ex-Japan index rose 0.2%, hovering NEAR four-year highs, while China's CSI 300 gained 0.2% despite slowing services growth. Vietnamese stocks surged to three-year peaks following a new trade agreement with the U.S. that eliminates Vietnamese tariffs on American goods.
European futures pointed higher, with the FTSE 100 and DAX both up 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. U.S. Treasury yields dipped as the dollar hit a three-year low, reflecting cautious positioning ahead of key economic data. The trade developments between Washington and Hanoi have sparked Optimism for similar agreements with other Asian nations.