Indices A Touch Softer Ahead Of NFP

Mostly negative sentiment in Asia with major equity markets in minor negative to flat territory as coronavirus concerns continue to dampen sentiment across the region while the energy sector weighed as oil posts its worst week this year. Markets in Hong Kong and mainland China are the laggards, down by around 0.7%. There were reports in state media of a continuation of the regulatory crackdown with calls for greater scrutiny on marketing of baby-milk formula. Markets in Japan were hovering around flat, Nintendo tempered upside after missing estimates in its latest earnings report. In the US futures are slightly lower after equity bourses hit a record high yesterday, participants await the latest US NFP data later in the session.