In Asian Equity Markets indices fell on Friday morning as investors awaited the release of China’s trade data for January on Friday. The Shanghai composite declined 0.76%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index lost 0.81%. Gaming stocks were in the red on Friday morning amid Macau’s casinos’ temporary shutdown over the virus outbreak. Melco International Development fell more than 3%, and Wynn Macau lost around 2%. Galaxy Entertainment was down 1.64%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 reversed gains to decline 0.15%.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar held near a two-week high versus the yen on Friday on upbeat U.S. economic data ahead of a key jobs report, while the yuan eased and financial markets remained on tenterhooks as the death toll from a new coronavirus in China jumped yet again. Sterling traded near a six-week low against the greenback and nursed losses versus the euro, dogged by persistent worries about negotiations between Britain and the European union for a post-Brexit trade deal.

In Commodities Markets oil prices climbed on Friday after Russia said it backs a recommendation for OPEC and other producers to deepen output cuts amid falling demand for crude as China battles the coronavirus epidemic that has hit global markets. Brent crude futures rose 34 cents, or 0.6%, to $55.27 a barrel by 0250, but were heading for a fifth weekly loss amid lingering fears over the impact of the virus.U.S. WTI crude futures were up 28 cents, or 0.5%, at $51.23 a barrel, also heading for a fifth consecutive week of losses.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose for a fourth straight session on Thursday on China’s efforts to contain the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, while investors assessed a mixed batch of corporate earnings. The S&P 500 gained 0.30% to 3,344.62 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.55%, at 9,560.83. Eight of the 11 major indexes were higher, led by a 0.6% gain for consumer staple stocks. Twitter Inc gained about 17.3% after the micro-blogging platform touched $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time ever.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed whether China’s efforts to contain the spreading coronavirus would be enough to minimize its economic impact. The benchmark 10-year yield was down less than a basis point at 1.6422% in afternoon trading. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was up less than a basis point at 1.4472% in afternoon trading.