BEIJING - Asian stocks drifted after a retreat on Wall Street as data showing a softening in the US jobs market pointed to a slowing economy and fuelled fresh fears of a recession.
After March's banking sector-sparked turmoil, markets have enjoyed a few bright weeks on optimism the Federal Reserve will temper its interest rate hikes earlier than thought.
The rally continued at the start of this week, even after a shock cut in oil output by major producers sent prices soaring and reignited worries over inflation, which has been coming down in the past months.
But New York traders ran out of energy Tuesday and turned sellers after data showed February job openings at US companies fell to their lowest level since May 2021 and below forecasts.
While figures showing a strong labour market have been welcomed as giving the Fed room to stop hiking rates, analysts said the reading was also seen as a warning that the economy was on the slide.
"The bears are feeling confident that the recent rally can't keep going given valuations and how the rates markets are clearly signalling we are recession bound," said OANDA's Edward Moya.
"The bulls see a weakening economy and the end of the Fed's tightening cycle.
"The bears most likely have a stronger argument, as if we see rate cuts in the fall, that means something is really wrong with the economy. For the bulls to be right, somehow a soft landing has to emerge."
In early Asian trade, Tokyo led losses by shedding more than one percent, with a strong yen adding to the downward pressure. Sydney and Jakarta also fell while Singapore, Seoul, Manila and Wellington rose.
Hong Kong and mainland Chinese markets were closed for a holiday.
Oil prices rose again, building on the week's surge sparked by the output cut, with both contracts now up around seven percent since Friday's close.