The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped to an eight-month low last week, pointing to persistent labor market tightness even as job growth is cooling.

Central banks for the world's biggest economies have served notice that they will keep interest rates as high as needed to tame inflation, even as two years of unprecedented global policy tightening reaches a peak.

Stocks and bonds were under pressure on Friday as investors hunkered down for U.S. interest rates to stay higher for longer, while waiting to see whether the Bank of Japan might cap a busy week by charting a course out of its ultra-easy monetary policy.

Oil prices rose on Friday as concerns that a Russian ban on fuel exports could tighten global oil supply outweighed fears that further possible U.S. interest rate hikes could dent fuel demand, but they were still headed for a weekly loss in four.

The yen fell on Friday after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) maintained its ultra-loose monetary policy stance in a keenly awaited rate decision, while the dollar stood near a six-month peak on the prospect of higher-for-longer U.S. rates.

Thailand's new government plans to borrow about 2.4 trillion baht ($66.4 billion) for the fiscal year 2024 starting on Oct. 1, up 9% from the current year, according to market sources briefed by the finance ministry.