Fiona Harper

The downturn in Britain's labour market abated slightly last month as recruiters reported the first increase in demand for temporary staff in over a year, a survey showed on Friday.

New Zealand's top central banker said on Thursday that the deterioration in the country's labour market was within the bank's expectations, after data this week showed the jobless rate in the third quarter rose to the highest level since 2016.

Oil fell for a second day after an industry report indicated the biggest increase in US inventories in more than three months.

Oil prices held on to most gains from the previous session in early trading on Thursday as investors awaited U.S.-China trade talks later in the day, hoping for signs that tensions clouding the economic growth outlook will ease.

The recent dip in the broader crypto market was led by the gloomy momentum recorded in Bitcoin price.Besides, the altcoins also followed suit, erasing around 1% from the global crypto market cap to $3.78 trillion, indicating a cautious stance of traders.

Oil steadied after falling to five-month low, as investors weighed an expected supply glut against the fallout of escalating US-China trade tensions.

The United States and China on Tuesday will begin charging port fees on ocean shipping firms that move everything from holiday toys to crude oil, making the high seas a key front in the trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Gold headed for a seventh weekly advance, as the US government shutdown added another layer of uncertainty for investors seeking signals on the Federal Reserve’s monetary-easing path.

Japan will sell benchmark 10-year bonds on Thursday, just two days before the ruling party elects a new leader in a key vote that will determine fiscal and economic policy.