Stock markets mostly climbed and global bonds stabilized on Thursday as investors looked to US jobs data to cement rate-cut bets.

The latest weekly data released Thursday showed more first-time claims for unemployment benefits in the United States than analysts had expected, while figures from payroll firm ADP showed slowing private sector hiring in August.

Investors are now looking to US government data due out Friday, ahead of a Federal Reserve interest rate meeting later this month. Analysts expect the United States added 63,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent to from 4.2 percent.

"All eyes will be on Friday's nonfarm payrolls report with bad news likely to be interpreted as good news as it will raise the market probability that the Fed cuts rates," note

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