SYDNEY: Asian shares were flat and Treasuries held onto gains on Friday ahead of the U.S. non-farm payrolls data, the next big test for investors looking for more signs of a shift from the Federal Reserve, while the dollar nursed heavy losses.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 0.2% in early trade. Nonetheless, the index is set to rise 4.2% for the week, hovering around the highest level since September.
Japan's Nikkei fell 1.5%.
S&P 500 futures eased 0.3%, while Nasdaq futures fell 0.4%%. U.S. shares ended mixed on Thursday after a big rally the day before, buoyed by comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell that did not sound as hawkish as some had feared.
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