Asian shares seen cautious, Tokyo hikes after system outage

Asian share markets made minimal changes on Friday. This could be attributed to investors’ subdued sentiment over an impasse in U.S. stimulus talks. Meanwhile, employment figures from the United States are expected to provide a clear economic view amid the coronavirus crisis.  

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was seen 0.11% lower. Australia’s S&P/ASX index recorded a 0.86% decline brought by a drop in oil and copper prices.

Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei hiked 0.19%. The jump came after the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) resumed its trading operations following a system outage.  Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures shed 0.23% as an additional stimulus package was again restricted from pushing through.

 After a day of negotiations, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that an imminent deal came unexpectedly with the Trump administration. More so, it is still unclear if legislators will accomplish something before the Nov. 3 presidential poll.