The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits was greater than anticipated last week, in the latest sign of potential cooling in the U.S. labor market.
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level in more than eight months, offering more evidence that the labor market was steadily cooling.
Oil prices rose on Friday, continuing upwards trend on the signs of improving economy in China and as negotiations to halt hostilities in the stand-off between Israel and Hamas yielded no results.
The U.S. dollar had a soft tone in early Asian trading on Friday after losing ground overnight to the euro and sterling on the back of U.S. data showing further signs of a cooling labour market and hence higher odds of Fed rate cuts this year.
Asian shares were subdued on Thursday as investors awaited China trade data to gauge the health of the Chinese economy, while the yen steadied after three days of declines as Japan talked up a potential currency intervention.
Thailand's economy is expected to grow 2.2% to 2.7% this year, down from a previous forecast of 2.8% to 3.3% due to a slow export recovery, a leading joint business group said on Wednesday.