GLOBAL MARKETS-Asian markets to inch up as U.S. stimulus talks restart
By Imani Moise
NEW YORK, Oct 8 (Reuters) – Asian shares were set to track Wall Street gains on Friday as revived hopes for a U.S. stimulus deal helped investors overlook weaker-than-expected jobs data and growing global coronavirus cases.
In energy markets, oil prices rallied on production shutdowns ahead of a storm in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the possibility of supply cuts from Saudi Arabia and Norway. O/R
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said talks with Congress had restarted on targeted fiscal relief, after calling off negotiations earlier this week.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi downplayed the likelihood of stand-alone bills without more comprehensive aid, but the fact that talks had resumed was enough to lift markets.
Futures for the S&P 500 EScv1 rose 0.44%, Australia’s S&P ASX 200 futures YAPcm1 were 0.20% higher and Japan’s Nikkei 225 futures NKc1 added 0.32% in early Asia.
Mixed messages