Asia-Pacific Stocks Edge Higher After Strong US Jobs Data

Asia-Pacific equities opened modestly higher on Thursday, supported by stronger-than-expected U.S. employment figures and the passage of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending package in the House of Representatives. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index inched up 0.1% to 8,604.5 in early trade. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.3%, while South Korea’s KOSPI added 0.1%. Regional currency markets were subdued, with most Asian units consolidating as investors weighed the mixed policy and macroeconomic signals.