[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed following the choppy performance on Wall St and as markets await the key US jobs report

APAC Stocks: Mixed Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed following the ultimately choppy performance stateside as oil prices climbed, yields pulled back, and participants digested a slew of data, while all eyes turn to the looming NFP report. ASX 200: +0.4% Mildly gained, with the upside led by strength in tech and energy, albeit with the upside limited amid a lack of fresh catalysts and with real estate and healthcare at the other end of the spectrum. Nikkei 225: -0.9% Retreated as participants digest the latest data releases, including a surprise uptick in the Unemployment Rate and the hotter-than-expected Tokyo CPI data, which was said to be driven by an unwinding of price suppression effects from targeted government subsidies. KOSPI +0.3% Traded indecisively following the somewhat mixed South Korean CPI data in which the Y/Y reading slowed to 2.9% from 3.1%, as expected, but remained above the central bank's 2% target. Hang Seng: -3.0% Underperforms on return from the holiday closure with Stock Connect trade remaining shut owing to the week-long closure in the mainland, while pressure is seen in auto names following monthly sales updates and with casino stocks in the red after Macau casino revenue declined last month. US Equity Futures: Positive Edged higher overnight in a gradual continuation of yesterday's intraday rebound, but with further upside capped as participants await the key US jobs data. European Equity Futures -0.1% Indicate a slightly lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.1% after the cash market closed with losses of 1.5% on Thursday.