Sawt Falasteen - Stock markets mixed with eyes on US jobs data

Investors awaited American employment figures Thursday and Friday amid hopes for further cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve.

"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.

London and Frankfurt stock markets rose in midday trading, while Paris fell.

The Paris CAC 40 was weighed by a 10-percent drop in shares of pharmaceutical firm Sanofi, after a disappointing trial of its drug for 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.

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.

Traders brushed off news that President Donald Trump's administration asked the US Supreme Court for an expedited rulings preserving tariffs.

US equities rose Wednesday, with shares in Google parent Alphabet and Apple gaining on the heels of a favourable court ruling.

Oil prices extended losses Thursday amid 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 1100 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 9,195.64 points

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,705.80

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.8 percent at 23,771.71

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)

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1 percent at 45,271.23 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1646 from $1.1663 on Wednesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3439 from $1.3445

Dollar/yen: UP at 148.36 yen from 148.12 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.65 pence from 86.75 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.6 percent at $62.95 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.5 percent at $66.59 per barrel

P.Tamimi--SF-PST