Nikkei skirts bear territory on US payroll jitters

Asian markets fell again overnight over uncertainty around US employment numbers out later today.

Their release could prove a crucial turning point in assessing when the Federal Reserve might decide to start reducing its $85bn-a-month asset purchase plan. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 finished down 1.1%, after falling as much as 2.8% earlier in the day. It has now lost nearly 20% from the five-year highs reached last month, entering bear market territory. Investors also piled out of long positions on the dollar versus the yen, on fears US non farm payroll figures would undershoot expectations. Japan's currency rallied as a result, with the yen strengthening against the dollar fro...