U.S. job growth accelerated in February, but that likely masks underlying softening labor market conditions as the unemployment rate increased to a two-year high of 3.9%.

Asian share markets followed Wall Street lower on Monday while the dollar looked vulnerable ahead of a reading on U.S. inflation that could hasten, or delay, the start of global rate cuts.

Japan's current account extended its surplus for a full year in January, Ministry of Finance data showed on Friday, as rises in overseas interest rates boosted gains from foreign bond holdings.

Japanese consumer spending in January fell by the most in 35 months, data showed on Friday, although a government official blamed one-off factors and played down the impact on broader consumption trends.

China's export and import growth in the January-February period beat forecasts, suggesting global trade is turning a corner in an encouraging signal for policymakers as they try to shore up a stuttering economic recovery.

Small business continued to recover last year from the hit they took for the pandemic while facing financial challenges tied to higher interest rates and still hard-to-find workers, according to a report released Thursday by the 12 regional Federal Reserve banks.