Asian shares climb ahead of US jobs data, Fed's Waller soothes bonds

Asian equities moved higher on Friday, with buyers returning to a worldwide rally ahead of closely watched US payrolls figures, Business Recorder reported. Government bonds also recovered after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller eased worries about another rate increase, which pushed the dollar lower. The yen has risen 2.6% this week to 155.7 per dollar, close to the 155.2 mark where Tokyo and Washington jointly intervened in late July.

In remarks at a Reuters event, Waller said recent figures pointed to some easing of inflation pressure and that he would lean towards leaving rates unchanged at this month's policy meeting if forthcoming reports backed that view. Traders pared bets on a hike this month to 50%, versus about 63% a day earlier, as two-year Treasury yields slid 5 basis points to 4.3381%, retreating from 4.4102%, the highest level in 20 months.

Elsewhere in Asia, the MSCI measure of Asia-Pacific equities excluding Japan rose 1%, though it remained 0.4% lower for the week. Japan's Nikkei added 0.8% but was 2.7% weaker over the week. Brent crude was priced at $95.52 a barrel after a 7% weekly gain, and gold was near $4,470 an ounce following a 2% overnight gain. Attention now turns to the August US payrolls report, where forecasts centre on 56,000 new jobs after a 23,000 fall in the prior month.