Sensex Today | Stock Market LIVE Updates: GIFT Nifty signals a positive start; Asian shares trade higher

Indian government bond yields are expected to dip in opening trade on Thursday, tracking a decline in U.S. yields after weak economic data strengthened bets of interest rate cuts.

The benchmark 10-year yield is likely to move in the 6.97%-7.02% range, following its previous close of 6.9987%, a trader with a primary dealership said.

Gold prices drifted higher on Thursday after softer-than-expected U.S. economic data fuelled hopes that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates as soon as September.

Spot gold was up 0.3% at $2,362.10 per ounce, as of 0200 GMT after hitting a near two-week high in the previous session. U.S. gold futures was little changed at $2,369.80.

On Thursday, the dollar weakened as recent U.S. economic indicators indicated slowing growth. Despite this, the yen remained near a 38-year low, prompting concerns about potential government intervention.

Meanwhile, the euro maintained its position close to a three-week peak against the dollar, while sterling strengthened ahead of the UK elections scheduled for later in the day.

Oil prices fell in early trade on Thursday after U.S. employment and business activity data came in weaker than expected, in signs the economy may be cooling in the world’s top oil consuming nation.

Brent crude futures were down 30 cents, or 0.34%, at $87.04 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 32 cents, or 0.38%, to $83.56 by 0030 GMT, with activity thinned by the U.S. Fourth of July holiday.

• The euro was little changed at $1.0791
• The Japanese yen was little changed at 161.55 per dollar
• The offshore yuan was little changed at 7.3017 per dollar

• S&P 500 futures were little changed as of 9:46 a.m. Tokyo time
• Hang Seng futures rose 0.9%
• Nikkei 225 futures (OSE) rose 0.5%
• Japan’s Topix rose 0.6%
• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.1%
• Euro Stoxx 50 futures were little changed