US and European equity futures were steady ahead of hotly anticipated US inflation data due later Thursday, while Asia’s session was marked by gains for tech giants.
Euro Stoxx 50 contracts were little changed while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures walked back earlier gains during Asian trading.
Major benchmarks for Japan, South Korea and mainland China rose, while those for Australia and Hong Kong fell. MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index was flat after five consecutive daily gains.
Shares in Japan’s Softbank Group rose around 10% to a new high after major shareholding Arm Holdings Plc climbed in Wednesday trading in New York.
Chipmakers Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and SK Hynix Inc in South Korea also advanced. Treasuries were steady after a rally across the curve Wednesday, while Australian and New Zealand government bonds rose Thursday.
An index of the dollar was little changed and the yen was steady against the greenback.US producer prices unexpectedly declined for the first time in four months in August.
The data soothed worries that elevated inflation would create a challenge for policymakers trying prevent a jobs downturn ahead of US inflation figures due later Thursday.
