World stocks rise as US jobs machine counters slowdown fears

London, Oct 4 (AFP/APP):Global stock markets rose on Friday after US jobs data assuaged fears of a slowdown in the world’s top economy, analysts said.

However, expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut were still very much alive, they added, even as the unemployment rate dropped to a 50-year low in September.

American employers added a total of 136,000 net new positions in September, below expectations. But whatever disappointment the data brought was offset by an upward revision in August figures and another drop in the unemployement rate.

Wage growth was weak, however.

– ‘Some relief’ –

Markets appeared “to find some relief from a mixed September nonfarm payroll report” said analysts at Charles Schwab.

“The data comes as recession concerns ramped up, along with Fed rate cut expectations, this week as manufacturing and services sector reports came in well below expectations,” they said.

In Europe, stocks were jolted out of earlier softness by the data, while Wall Street came off to a stronger start.

Traders reported investors switching out of Treasury bonds and gold into stocks as some appetite for risk returned.

Still, many investors remained worried by earlier data suggesting that the US is now feeling the effects of its long-running trade war with China.

On Thursday a measure of the crucial services sector came in at its lowest for three years.

– Hong Kong sinks –

Earlier, stock markets in Asia finished mostly lower, with Hong Kong marking the heaviest drop. Property firms were among the worst hit, as demonstrators took to the streets again to protest the imposition of a law banning face masks following months of sometimes violent protests.

Mumbai fell 0.7 percent after the Indian central bank announced a rate cut as expected but slashed its economic growth outlook. Shanghai was closed for a holiday.

Hong Kong sank 1.1 percent as the city’s government announced the face mask ban as it looks to quell the demonstrations that have rocked the economy.

But there are worries that the rarely-used colonial-era emergency power could lead to further confrontations or more, stricter laws later.

– Key figures around 1335 GMT –

London – FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 7,139.74 points
Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.8 percent at 5,480.68
Frankfurt – DAX 30: UP 0.5 percent at 11,989.13
EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.6 percent at 3,440.96
New York – Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 26,344.31
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 21,410.20 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 1.1 percent at 25,821.03 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: Closed for a public holiday
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0975 from $1.0965 at 2100 GMT
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2304 from $1.2332
Dollar/yen: UP at 106.98 yen from 106.92 yen
Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.8 percent at $58.73 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.4 percent at $53.19