European shares dip in early trading
U.S. 2yr yields close to 15yr top, dollar near 3mth high
China shares wobble, yuan weakens on soft inflation data
Nikkei up 0.6, yen gains as Ueda approved as next BOJ governor
Powell reaffirms hawkish guidance, March hike size not done deal

LONDON, March 9 Reuters Global markets were in a rare lull on Thursday ahead of U.S. jobs data at the end of the week that could easily whip up more crossasset storms.

Europe39;s share markets began fractionally lower though there was little movement from either the dollar FRX or in bond markets, where recessionary warnings having been becoming increasingly shrill again. US

U.S. Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell had stuck to his message of higher and potentially faster interest rate hikes during a hearing on Wednesday, but emphasised too that the decision would hinge on the strength of incoming data.

It means traders will be looking even more intently at U.S. payrolls data on Friday and then U.S. inflation numbers which follow on Tuesday.

Financial markets are now pricing in a near 80 likelihood of a 50 basis point rate hike at the Fed39;s March meeting, up from about 30 at the start of the week. There is also a growing expectation the U.S. central bank could push rates to 6.

Our core view is that 5.5 will be enough, but that they Fed will have to stay there longer than the market expects. said Iain Cunningham, CoHead of MultiAsset Growth and CoPortfolio Manager of the Ninety One…