GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia shares set to open higher as traders await U.S. payrolls

* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

By Chris Prentice
WASHINGTON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Asia shares were poised to
open higher on Friday, tracking global equity markets' overnight
gains as investors awaited a U.S. nonfarm payrolls report.
Hong Kong futures HSIc1 were up 0.23% and Nikkei futures
NKc1 were trading above the Nikkei 225 index's .N225
previous close, pointing to an opening advance of 0.14%.
Gold continued its rally, with spot prices XAU= rising
0.32% and striking a fresh record of $2,072.4951 per ounce.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 0.68% and the
S&P 500 .SPX gained 0.64%. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added
1%, marking the fourth straight day of record peaks and closing
highs as the tech-heavy index ended the session above 11,000 for
the first time.
MSCI's benchmark for global equity markets .MIWD00000PUS
rose 0.23% to 565.38.
The euro EUR= climbed to its highest against the U.S.
dollar since May 2018 before paring gains and the greenback
slumped to a two-year low against a basket of major currencies
=USD .
Mixed U.S. jobless claims data on Thursday left investors
awaiting a clearer picture. Fewer Americans sought jobless
benefits last week, but a staggering 31.3 million people were
receiving unemployment checks in mid-July, suggesting the U.S.
labor market was stalling, the data showed. U.S. nonfarm payroll data was expected later on Friday.
The Treasury yield curve flattened slightly as government
bond investors, who have expressed doubt about the stability of
the U.S. labor market's recovery this past week, awaited the
data. "This July read will also represent the last month of hiring
that has been a factor of re-openings - the August print will be
a whole new game, hence why we need to see a fiscal stimulus
agreement through Congress sooner," Chris Weston, head of
research at Pepperstone, said in a market note.
Republicans and Democrats remained far apart about what to
include in another wave of coronavirus stimulus. The Treasury
Secretary and White House Chief of Staff began another round of
negotiations with the top Democratic leaders in Congress.
Even though many senators already have left town, the four
negotiators were continuing efforts for a deal that could be
voted upon by summoning senators back to Washington.
China trade data was due out later on Friday.

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