US stock futures and Asian markets fell for the fourth consecutive day on disappointing US jobs data. The yen gained ground against major foreign currencies, while oil fell.
Notably, the Standard & Poor's 500 futures index fell 1,1% as of 9:29 am in Tokyo. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 0,3 percent. The yen instead strengthened by 0,3% to 81.37 against the dollar. Crude oil fell 1,1% to $102,20 a barrel in New York, while gold rose 0,4% for a third consecutive day of gains. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average slipped 0,6%, falling to its lowest since February 21.
A reduction, caused, as mentioned, by data on US employment (+120 jobs) at a five-month low and lower than the Bloomberg average of analysts' forecasts which indicated a +205 jobs. Data later on the day also indicated consumer price growth in China below the government's target of 4 percent. "Europe is not doing well, but worries on the American front are also growing now, after the recent employment data," said Toshiya Yamauchi, senior analyst at Ueda Harlow Ltd. in Tokyo. “The yen will continue to be bought as a safe haven currency.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-09/s-p-500-futures-asian-stocks-decline-as-yen-strengthens.html
