Stock markets, dollar mixed before key US jobs data [Video]

Global stock markets and the dollar diverged Friday as investors awaited US jobs data for signs of possible cuts to interest rates in the world’s biggest economy.

It comes at the end of a volatile week for assets caused by US President Donald Trump’s move to impose tariffs on key trading partners China, Canada and Mexico.

“All eyes will be on US jobs figures later today,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

“The market is expecting a big drop in non-farm payrolls in January… likely impacted by the LA fires and cold weather,” he added.

A below forecast reading could rekindle hopes of further US interest rate cuts, analysts said, after the Federal Reserve kept borrowing costs steady last week.

The latest figures will be looked at particularly closely as they contain annual revisions for “the previous five years of payrolls”, noted Jim Reid, managing director at Deutsche …