Asian Equities Set to Rise as Wall Street Rebounds

Tokyo, Japan - Asian equities are poised for growth on Thursday, following the gains made by stocks and bonds on Wall Street. The week has been marked by tariff tensions, underwhelming tech earnings, and mixed economic data in the United States.

Market Overview

* Australian shares and equity futures for Japan and Hong Kong have opened higher.
* The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 extended their gains on Wednesday, marking the second consecutive day of growth and rebounding from Monday's decline.
* U.S. Treasuries rallied across the yield curve, with the 10-year yield dropping to 4.42% and the 2-year yield falling to 4.18%.
* Australian yields have declined in early Thursday trading.

Currency Markets

* The U.S. dollar index has weakened by 0.2%, reversing the gains sparked by President Trump's tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China.
* Lower yields have weighed on the dollar, as investors seek higher returns elsewhere.

Economic Data and Outlook

* Data released on Wednesday showed weaker-than-expected demand for U.S. services, suggesting a potential moderation in economic activity in the coming months.
* Another report indicated that U.S. employment growth exceeded forecasts in January, ahead of the closely watched jobs report on Friday.
* The Federal Reserve is closely monitoring the jobs market as it considers the extent of interest rate cuts this year.

Commodities

* Gold prices have stabilized after reaching a record high on Wednesday amid concerns about market tightness.
* U.S. oil prices dropped by over 2% on Wednesday.
* Saudi Arabia has increased the price of its flagship crude to Asia, responding to rising premiums for Middle Eastern crude and improving refinery margins.

Upcoming Events and Key Events This Week

* Trade balance figures for Australia, inflation data for Vietnam and Thailand, and a speech by Bank of Japan's Naoki Tamura are scheduled for release in Asia.
* The Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.5% in Europe.
* Key U.S. economic data to be released this week includes initial jobless claims, Amazon earnings, nonfarm payrolls, unemployment, and University of Michigan consumer sentiment.

Market Sentiment

* Despite Alphabet Inc.'s significant drop in stock price following disappointing earnings, U.S. stocks made gains.
* Advanced Micro Devices Inc. fell by 6.3% on a weak outlook, while Qualcomm Inc. rose on a bullish sales forecast.
* Legendary short seller Jim Chanos warns that the biggest risks facing U.S. markets are unpredictable events that cannot be foreseen.