Stock markets advance with eyes on US jobs data

Investors are now looking to US government data due out Friday, ahead of a Federal Reserve interest rate meeting later this month. Analysts expect the United States added 63,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent to from 4.2 percent.

"All eyes will be on Friday's nonfarm payrolls report with bad news likely to be interpreted as good news as it will raise the market probability that the Fed cuts rates," noted Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor.

US stocks overcame early weakness and gained momentum throughout the day. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8 percent to finish at a fresh all-time high.

David Morrison, senior market analyst at financial services provider Trade Nation, said the employment data "is likely to play a central role in shaping the direction of equities, currencies and commodities over the coming fortnight".

In Europe, Frankfurt rose despite Germany's main economic institutes cutting their growth forecasts.

But Paris stocks slid, weighed down by an eight-percent drop in shares of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi, after a disappointing trial of its drug for the skin condition atopic dermatitis.

Elsewhere, the global bond market eased further after yields had earlier in the week jumped on concerns over mounting government debt.

"There are signs that the bond market rout could be over," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB. 

She warned that risks still loomed, particularly a confidence vote in France next week that could topple the minority government. 

A solid auction of 30-year Japanese government bonds offered further reprieve after yields had risen to record highs. 

Tokyo's stock market closed higher. 

But Hong Kong and Shanghai each dropped more than one percent as a tech-driven rally ran out of steam.

Analysts said the decline followed a Bloomberg report that China's financial regulators may implement measures to cool the pace of the rally in stocks. 

Oil prices extended losses Thursday in anticipation of excess supply in the coming months, as OPEC+ nations are expected to further unwind production cuts.

In company news, shares in Japanese motor maker Nidec tumbled 22 percent after it launched a probe into "improper accounting" at its Chinese subsidiary.

- Key figures at around 2050 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.8 percent at 45,621.29 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.8 percent at 6,502.08 (close)

New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.0 percent at 21,707.69 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 9,216.87 (close) 

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.3 percent at 7,698.92 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.7 percent at 23,770.33 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.5 percent at 42,580.27 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.1 percent at 25,058.51 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.3 percent at 3,765.88 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1649 from $1.1662 on Wednesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3437 from $1.3444

Dollar/yen: UP at 148.45 yen from 148.10 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.72 pence from 86.74 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.8 percent at $63.48 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.9 percent at $66.99 per barrel

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