Shares fall on growth worries

Asian shares slipped despite new stimulus steps taken by three major central banks, as sentiment stayed cautious with the focus now on US jobs data.

• Shares ease from rally, euro pressured
• Shares gain on easing hopes
• Euro shares buoyed by debt support
• Shares cheer eurozone bank relief
• Stocks, euro surge on EU bond support
• Stocks rise on monetary stimulus hopes

Jobs data a test of US economy's strength

The US government will report May jobs numbers today in what could be a crucial test of the economy's momentum following a sluggish start to the year.

• Summer of discontent beckons
• 'Fiscal cliff' could derail US recovery
• Job disability headache
• US unemployment falls to 8.1%
• Inflation threat keeps Fed in check
• US economy trudges along

Hiring slowdown pressures US stocks

US stocks clawed back losses on disappointing private sector job growth data, with the Nasdaq index ending in the black while the Dow closed with a minimal loss.

• Manufacturing data boost US stocks
• Wall St pops on Apple results, Fed
• Apple crushes Wall Street targets
• Robust earnings lift US stocks
• US stocks close in the red
• Wall Street eyes 4th day of gains

Shares fall on tepid US data

Asian shares slipped and US stock futures pointed lower in thin trade after a tumble in US jobs growth raised concerns about the strength of its economy.

• Shares fall on sluggish US jobs
• US stocks tumble after Spain debt auction
• Stocks lifted ahead of long weekend
• Shares fall on Europe debt worries
• Asian shares fall on Fed minutes
• Asian shares rise on growth hopes

Shares pause after US jobs data

Shares fell as investors paused to assess the effect of strong US jobs data, which scaled back expectations for more easing ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting.

• Upbeat US jobs data lifts shares, dollar
• Shares up on Greece bond swap hopes
• Markets fall over Greece uncertainty
• Equities hit by economy worries
• Shares ease as investors await data
• Greek debt swap deal buoys shares

Dollar stuck in ranges

The dollar edged up against the euro but stayed weak against the yen in Asia ahead of the release of closely watched monthly US jobs data.

• Markets firmer as focus turns to Fed
• US stocks pull back from gains
• US economic indicator at 5-month high
• Jobs fears leave US stocks mixed
• Markets in ranges before US jobs data
• US jobless rate falls to near 3-yr low

Markets in ranges before US jobs data

Asian shares and the euro fell as debt restructuring talks between Greece and its creditors dragged on, and investors sat tight ahead of US jobs data.

• US jobs data helps stocks
• Stocks pressured by growth worries
• Stocks rise on Greek debt deal optimism
• Wall St stuck in neutral on poor data
• Euro, stocks off on Greek debt fears
• Stocks firm on easing growth concerns

Buoyant economic data boosts US stocks

Positive data on the US jobs market, industrial activity and trade gave a boost to US stocks, but eurozone clouds continued to hover over the markets.

• Wall St stacks up losses
• US stocks slump as Europe hopes fade
• Wall St falls on Fed call
• Wall St tanks on dimming Europe hopes
• Wall St gains after jobs report
• US stocks end higher

JSE lifted by US, ECB rate cut

The JSE has opened higher on the back of a strong performance from the US and lingering effects of the European Central Bank interest rate cut.

• JSE flat after volatile session
• JSE mired in red over Greece
• JSE snaps losing run
• JSE gives back gains at noon
• JSE down at noon, awaiting more news
• JSE recovers on bargain-hunting

Brent seesaws after boost by US data

The price of Brent crude remained volatile after an initial fillip from upbeat US employment data.

• Oil slips on US, eurozone fears
• Libyan oil body seeks $6bn in unpaid debt
• Oil climbs back above $100

Weak data point to US jobs doldrums

The recent batch of US economic indicators points to further weakness in the ailing labour market, ahead of keenly-anticipated monthly job statistics.

• Payroll worries end Wall St rally
• Asian shares fall ahead of key US data
• Dollar flat before US jobs report
• G7 central banks urged to do more QE
• World leaders urged to act
• Fed says it can do more to boost US

JSE rises ahead of US jobs data

The JSE has firmed at the opening bell, as sentiment was buoyed by strong private sector jobs data in the US.

Dollar eases against yen amid US worries

The dollar has declined against the yen, as weak US economic indicators cast a shadow over the world's biggest economy, dealers say.

• Yen drops on Japan debt warning
• Yen boosted by US, eurozone debt fears
• Dollar slides as risk appetite grows
• Dollar holds on to gains amid risk aversion
• Dollar strengthens against yen
• Dollar eases from three-week high

Equities down but not out

Asian stocks are lower, with a steady stream of weak US data putting a damper on risk taking ahead of Friday's payrolls report.

• US stocks plunge on glum data
• US stocks fall on poor jobs, industrial data
• Stocks surge, global economic worries ease
• Stocks stabilise; Greek progress eyed
• Greek debt fears weigh on euro, markets
• Greece bailout hopes lift euro and stocks

US jobless claims jump

New claims for US unemployment insurance benefits have surged more than expected last week to the highest level since January, official data shows.

• Obama melds politics with policy on trip
• Obama: Save US from Third World status
• Obama sets goal of $4 trillion in cuts
• Obama to lay out deficit plans
• Obama seeks budget deal
• Biden to hold budget reduction meeting

Oil jumps on upbeat US jobs news

Oil prices have hit fresh two-and-a-half-year highs as a jump in US jobs creation inspired traders amid hopes of rising demand.

• Oil hits multi-year high
• Oil higher on US equities rally
• Oil jumps as Gaddafi takes port
• Oil slips on jump in US inventories
• Oil slides in Asian trade
• Oil rallies ahead of quarter end

US jobless rate falls

US employment recorded a second straight month of solid gains in March and the jobless rate fell to a two-year low of 8.8%.

• Global recovery taking hold: Buffett
• Obama ally warns of Congress 'anger'
• France, US call for flexible rates

Asian shares jump on upbeat US jobs data

Asian shares have surged, shrugging off stubbornly high oil prices after signs that US companies are hiring more workers boosted Wall Street.

• Asian shares up on strong US jobs report
• Asian stocks rise, China's PMI slows
• Asian markets bounce back
• US stocks edge lower, oil gains
• US stocks jump, oil dips
• Gulf stocks drop on Middle East worries

'Grounds for optimism' in US job market

There are "grounds for optimism" that the ailing US jobs market will pick up this year, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has told Congress.

• Bernanke confronts Obama over debt
• Bernanke hits back at Fed critics
• US consumer spending edges up

Weaker rand spurs JSE on

The JSE has opened stronger, spurred by a softer rand that bolstered mining stocks ahead of crucial jobs data out later in the US.

• JSE ends up, lifted by resources
• JSE extends gains amid volatility
• JSE revamp to speed up trading
• JSE firms on resources run
• JSE rallies as risk aversion subsides
• JSE firmer as risk appetite picks up

US data leads JSE down

The JSE has opened in the red as disappointing US jobs data saw bourses worldwide making losses.

• JSE up slightly on resources
• Resources continue to spur JSE
• Resources help JSE defy slide
• Resources push JSE to firmer close
• Stronger commodities lift JSE
• JSE rises ahead of Portuguese auction

US jobs data puts a damper on Asian stocks

Asian markets are mostly lower as a disappointing US jobs report late last week drove Wall Street down.

• Asian stocks slip after bull run
• Asian stocks sluggish as cheer cools
• SE Asia stocks firmer; Malaysia at record
• Asian stocks open 2011 higher
• Japan stocks lead Asian markets higher
• Asia stocks ring out 2010 with solid gains

European shares retreat

European stocks have slipped back after scaling to 28-month highs, with investors avoiding strong bets ahead of a key US jobs report.

• European stocks back with a bang
• World stocks eye two-year high
• Wall Street lifts Asian shares
• FTSE surges back above 6 000 level
• Weaker oils pull FTSE lower
• Asian stocks slip after bull run

US jobs hopes lift dollar, hurt euro

The euro has slumped to a four-month low against the dollar and looks set for more weakness if US payrolls data meets recently raised forecasts.

• Dollar solid on positive US outlook
• Dollar up on optimism over US economy
• Dollar firms on positive US outlook
• Dollar strength weighs on rand, JSE
• Dollar strengthens against euro
• Dollar falls against euro, yen