China Markets Steady

Equity moves were muted in the Asia-Pac session on Thursday, mulling over a mostly negative lead from the US and hawkish comments from Fed speakers. Markets in Japan were higher, the Nikkei 225 up around 0.3%; Japan extended its Covid-19 quasi-emergency measures to 8 prefectures after recording more than 14,000 new infections for the first time on Wednesday. In China bourses are slightly lower, but have recovered the bulk of opening losses. Liquor stocks came under pressure after a piece from the Ministry of Science and Technology warning drinking alcohol could lead to cancer. Other markets in the region swung between minor gains and minor losses. In the US futures are higher to the tune of around 0.15%, participants will already have one eye on the US NFP figure on Friday after a number of Fed speakers this week.