Asia's stock rally set to pause for breath ahead of US jobs data

Australian S&P/ASX 200 futures lost 0.2% in early trading while Japan's Nikkei 225 futures slipped 0.4%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures lost 0.55%. E-mini futures for the S&P 500 rose 0.14%.

NEW YORK: Asian stocks were set to hold tight ranges on Friday after a mixed Wall Street session and as investors awaited key U.S. jobs data while sustained hopes about a global economic recovery kept pressure on the safe-haven dollar.

The week's global equity rally lost some steam on Thursday as traders took winnings from seven days of gains, backing away ahead of Friday's nonfarm payrolls data, which is expected to show further deterioration in the U.S. jobs market.