Asian markets were mixed Friday and the dollar held gains as rate hike expectations grew, with traders now focusing on a key US jobs report later in the day.
Oil prices rose on fading expectations for an Iran nuclear deal anytime soon, but they remained under severe pressure from a range of issues including the strengthening dollar, Covid lockdowns in China and worries about a demand-sapping recession.
Healthy readings on US factory activity, unemployment claims and private jobs creation indicated the world’s top economy remained strong despite rising interest rates and four-decade-high inflation.—AFP
