US equity futures are pointing modestly higher, with Asian markets mostly firmer and European equities trading broadly higher. A stronger-than-expected payrolls report was the central driver, reinforcing resilience in the labor market and prompting a backup in yields while tempering expectations for near-term rate cuts. Market leadership remained highly dispersed, with semiconductors and memory stocks outperforming even as broader software renewed its weakness amid ongoing AI-related scrutiny and hyperscaler capex concerns. Big tech lagged overall, and the rotation into cyclicals appeared more selective rather than broad-based. Geopolitical tensions, including heightened focus on Iran, supported crude prices, while trade uncertainty and deficit dynamics also remained in the backdrop ahead of upcoming inflation data.

Companies Mentioned: Microsoft, Strategy, Baidu, Knowledge Atlas Technology

US equity futures are higher, following Tuesday's mixed performance. Bonds mixed. US 10-year yield steady at 4.1% after notable drop in prior session after soft US retail sales. Gilts 2 bps lower. Dollar weaker, with biggest move versus yen. Oil gains, gold higher. Industrial metals gain. Bitcoin lower. Asia equities buoyed again by another positive finish on Wall Street overnight with the added tailwind of a weaker dollar/higher regional currencies. Several prominent Asia currencies are strengthening, among them we see the yen, almost 1% stronger on little fresh newsflow, the AUD on hawkish RBA comments, and the offshore yuan, which advanced to a near three-year high.

Companies Mentioned: Warner Bros, Discovery, Netflix, Mattel, ConocoPhilips