Asian markets drift lower as US jobs data looms

Equities fell again in Asia on Friday as traders prepared for the release of US jobs data that could play a key role in the Federal Reserve’s decision-making on interest rate, with several officials indicating the cutting has finished for now.

Markets have started the year cautiously, with the optimism that characterised most of the past three months dented by concerns about Donald Trump’s presidency and the US central bank’s hawkish pivot on monetary policy.