Asia Morning Call-Global Markets

Jan 9 (Reuters) -

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** indicates closing price

All prices as of 1815 GMT

EQUITIES

GLOBAL - Major stock indexes mostly eased and Treasury yields rose on Thursday ahead of Friday's key U.S. jobs report, while defense company shares jumped amid U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for a $1.5 trillion military budget.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS fell 2.86 points, or 0.28%, to 1,028.62.

For a full report, click on MKTS/GLOB

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NEW YORK - The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq fell on Thursday as losses in heavyweight technology stocks weighed, while defense companies advanced after President Donald Trump called for a $1.5 trillion military budget.

At 9:52 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 37.23 points, or 0.08%, to 49,033.31, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 6.27 points, or 0.09%, to 6,914.66 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC lost 142.39 points, or 0.58%, to 23,448.17.

For a full report, click on .N

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LONDON - European stocks fell on Thursday, dragged down by a selloff in tech and disappointing updates from several heavyweight retailers, while weaker gold and copper prices weighed on broader market mood.

The index .STOXX fell 0.2% to 603.83, logging its second consecutive day in the red.

For a full report, click on .EU

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TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average tumbled for a second straight day on Thursday, dragged lower by profit-taking in the artificial intelligence $(AI)$ sector and as trade tensions heat up with China.

The Nikkei 225 Index .N225 shed 1.6% to close at 51,117.26, extending a 1.1% drop on Wednesday.

For a full report, click on .T

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SHANGHAI - China stocks fell on Thursday, as investors took profits in financial shares, while tech stocks led the Hong Kong market lower following Wall Street's overnight weakness.

The Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC edged down 0.1%.

For a full report, click on .SS

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AUSTRALIA - Australian shares posted modest gains on Thursday, with strength in financials offsetting losses in mining stocks a day after sticky core inflation reinforced the risk of further rate hikes.

The S&P/ASX 200 .AXJO rose 0.3% to close at 8,720.80, logging its best session in over two weeks.

For a full report, click on .AX

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SEOUL - South Korean shares extended gains to a fifth consecutive session on Thursday, driven by optimism over solid earnings growth as Samsung Electronics' quarterly profit more than tripled. The won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.

The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 1.31 points, or 0.03%, at 4,552.37.

For a full report, click on KRW/

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FOREIGN EXCHANGE

NEW YORK - The dollar edged higher against peer currencies including the Japanese yen on Thursday, as investors awaited Friday’s crucial nonfarm payrolls report, which could help assess the U.S. labor market and the probable path of interest rates.

The dollar index =USD, which measures the U.S. currency against six rivals, was up 0.08% at 98.802 after hitting its highest since December 10.

For a full report, click on USD/

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SHANGHAI - China's yuan strengthened against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, as traders said exporters were eager to convert dollars into the local currency after the pair approached the psychologically important 7 mark.

The onshore spot yuan CNY=CFXS opened at 6.9960 per dollar following a weaker official fix, nearly slipping to 7 before rebounding to 6.9790, near a 32-month high.

For a full report, click on CNY/

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AUSTRALIA - The Australian dollar hovered near new highs on many crosses on Thursday, buoyed by the recent bullish run in commodities and prospects of rate rises at home.

Against the U.S. dollar, the Aussie AUD=D3 was flat at $0.6720

For a full report, click on AUD/

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SEOUL - The South Korean won weakened against the dollar

The won was quoted at 1,450.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC.

For a full report, click on KRW/

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TREASURIES

NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields rose on Thursday after data showed that the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits was below economists' forecasts as traders awaited Friday’s highly anticipated jobs report for December.

The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes US10YT=RR rose 4.3 basis points to 4.181.

For a full report, click on US/

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LONDON - Euro zone government bond yields edged up from one-month lows on Thursday, and yield curves steepened a touch, as this week's rally on cooler-than-expected inflation data paused, partly due to higher oil prices and stronger producer price inflation.

Germany's 10-year yield DE10YT=RR, which acts as a benchmark for the wider euro zone, was up 3 basis points at 2.84% in afternoon trading.

For a full report, click on GVD/EUR

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TOKYO - Benchmark Japanese bonds rose on Thursday as investor concerns about the strength of market appetite for government debt ebbed after auctions for medium- and longer-term securities.

The 10-year Japanese government bond (JGB) yield JP10YTN=JBTC fell 4.5 basis points (bps) to 2.075%.

For a full report, click on JP/

COMMODITIES

GOLD - Gold held steady on Thursday as investors awaited U.S. nonfarm payrolls data for indications on the Federal Reserve's policy trajectory, though near‑term pressure from commodity index adjustments continued to cap gains.

Spot gold XAU= was up 0.2% at $4,460.36 per ounce, as of 11:55 a.m. ET (1654 GMT).

For a full report, click on GOL/

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IRON ORE - Iron ore futures retreated on Thursday after a four-session rally as investors booked profits on fears of potential government intervention in top consumer China, with prices nearing the key psychological level of $110 per metric ton.

The most-traded May iron ore contract on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) DCIOcv1 ended daytime trade down 0.37% at 813 yuan ($116.42) a ton

For a full report, click on IRONORE/

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BASE METALS - Copper and nickel prices fell on Thursday as the dollar strengthened and as investors locked in profits, extending a retreat from their recent rally.

Benchmark three-month copper CMCU3 on the London Metal Exchange fell 1.5% to $12,708.50 a metric ton by 1715 GMT.

For a full report, click on MET/L

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OIL - Oil prices rose about 2% on Thursday after two days of declines as investors assessed developments in Venezuela and on worries about supplies from Russia, Iraq and Iran.

Brent futures LCOc1 rose $1.21, or 2%, to $61.17 per barrel at 11:17 a.m. EST (1617 GMT)

For a full report, click on O/R

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PALM OIL - Malaysian palm oil futures rose for a second consecutive session on Thursday, supported by Indonesia's plan to hike palm oil export levy, while pressure from expectations of rising stocks limited gains.

The benchmark palm oil contract FCPOc3 for March delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 9 ringgit, or 0.22%, to 4,042 ringgit ($995.57)a metric ton at closing.

For a full report, click on POI/

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RUBBER - Japanese rubber futures fell from a 10-month high on Thursday, weighed down by reduced output at Chinese tyre factories undergoing maintenance.

The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for June delivery JRUc6, 0#2JRU: fell 3.2 yen, or 0.9%, to 350.5 yen ($2.24) per kg.

For a full report, click on RUB/T

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(Bengaluru Bureau; +91 80 6749 1130)