US Payrolls

Based on the November estimate, job growth would be trending around 145,000 over the past three months, which economists said was consistent

A Labor Department report showed U.S. employment increased less than expected in August, but a drop in the jobless rate to 4.2% suggested an orderly labor market slowdown continued

Financial markets boosted the odds of a September rate cut and saw the U.S. central bank reducing borrowing costs twice this year instead of only once before the data

Average hourly earnings are projected to climb 4.1 per cent from the same month last year, the smallest annual advance since mid-2021

The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists also calls for a 3.9% increase in average hourly earnings from a year earlier, the smallest annual gain since mid-2021

Japan's Nikkei and Chinese bluechips were mostly unchanged, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index eased 0.2% and South Korea gained 0.5%

Private companies in the US added 132,000 jobs in August, indicating a slower growth in a tight labour market, a payroll data company said in a report

Data for June was revised higher to show 398,000 jobs created instead of the previously reported 372,000.

The MSCI All Country stock index was flat at 744.71 points, also down 2% from a record high on Tuesday

The dollar rose to a 2-1/2-month peak on Wednesday, posting its biggest monthly rise since November 2016, supported by a surprisingly hawkish shift in the US Federal Reserve's rate outlook

Private payrolls increased by 978,000 jobs last month, the ADP National Employment Report showed on Thursday

Private payrolls increased by 117,000 jobs last month, the ADP National Employment Report showed on Wednesday

The labour dept said that nonfarm payrolls increased by 209,000 jobs last month amid broad gains

The solid gains in employment likely reflect rising confidence in the economy.