UPDATE 1-Asia Morning Call-Global Markets

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** indicates closing price

All prices as of 20:28 GMT

EQUITIES

GLOBAL - A gauge of global share markets was little changed on Thursday as it headed for its second straight quarter of solid gains, while a strong dollar kept the yen near its weakest in decades amid the threat of intervention from Japanese authorities.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe EURONEXT:IACWI fell 0.01%. The index was on pace to post a gain of over 7% for the first quarter.

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NEW YORK - U.S. stocks held near the unchanged mark on Thursday, with the S&P 500 poised to notch its best first quarter performance since 2019, as investors digested the latest batch of economic data while looking towards then next inflation reading.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJI rose 21.66 points, or 0.06%, to 39,781.74, the S&P 500 SPX gained 4.51 points, or 0.09%, to 5,253.00 and the Nasdaq Composite IXIC lost 22.14 points, or 0.13%, to 16,377.29.

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LONDON - Europe's STOXX 600 closed at a record high on Thursday, finishing its second-straight quarter in gains, with retailer JD Sports notching its strongest day in over four years after reiterating its annual profit forecast.

The pan-European STOXX 600 SXXP ended 0.2% up, closing a week that was marked by four range-bound sessions ahead of a holiday extended weekend.

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TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average fell on Thursday as numerous stocks were discounted for dividend rights before the fiscal year end, while caution over a potential currency intervention to shore up the yen also weighed on sentiment.

The Nikkei NI225 ended down 1.46% at 40,168.07, with 202 of its 225 components falling versus just 23 that rose. The index is, however, still set for a 20% jump in the January-March quarter.

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SHANGHAI - China stocks jumped on Thursday on expectations that Beijing will take more aggressive measures to stimulate the economy, while an official's speech also helped sentiment.

The blue-chip CSI300 index 3399300 was up 0.52%.

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AUSTRALIA - Australian markets are closed on Friday on account of a holiday.

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SEOUL - South Korean shares fell on Thursday, as investors took a wait-and-see approach ahead of U.S. inflation data due on Friday. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield was little changed.

The benchmark KOSPI KOSPI closed down 9.29 points, or 0.34%, at 2,745.82.

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FOREIGN EXCHANGE

NEW YORK - The dollar gained on the euro on Thursday before key U.S. inflation data due on Friday and as investors squared positions for month- and quarter-end.

The dollar index rose 0.1% to 104.52, after earlier touching 104.73, its highest since mid-February. DXY

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CHINA - China's yuan was steady on Thursday as the central bank's strong guidance offset pressure from a firmer dollar, while market attention was focused on upcoming key U.S. inflation.

In the spot market, the yuan USDCNY opened at 7.2249 per dollar and was changing hands at 7.2253 at midday, 12 pips stronger than the previous late session close.

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AUSTRALIA - Australian markets are closed on Friday on account of a holiday.

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SEOUL - South Korean shares fell on Thursday, as investors took a wait-and-see approach ahead of U.S. inflation data due on Friday. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield was little changed.

The won ended onshore trade USDKRW at 1,346.2 per dollar, 0.19% higher than its previous close at 1,348.7.

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TREASURIES

NEW YORK - U.S. Treasury yields firmed in an abbreviated session on Thursday, with an upward revision to U.S. fourth-quarter economic growth providing little impetus ahead of the start of the long Easter weekend.

The yield on U.S. 10-year notes US10Y was up 0.6 basis point at 4.202%when the market closed at 2 p.m. ET. The benchmark yield rose about 35 basis points in the first three months of the year.

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LONDON - Euro zone bond yields edged up on Thursday after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller advocated a higher-for-longer rate strategy ahead of inflation data which could affect the central banks' policy path.

Germany's 10-year bond yield (DE10YT=RR), the benchmark for the bloc, was last very slightly higher at 2.295%, although remained around its lowest since the middle of the month.

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TOKYO - Japanese government bond yields sank on Thursday, tracking an overnight decline for U.S. peers, while traders also tried to determine how soon the Bank of Japan could raise interest rates again.

Benchmark 10-year JGB futures (2JGBv1) rose 0.14 yen to 145.88.

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COMMODITIES

GOLD - Gold prices climbed on Thursday and were set to log their best month in over a year, bolstered by strong safe-haven demand, U.S. interest rate cut expectations and central bank buying.

Spot gold GOLD gained 0.5% to $2,204.99 per ounce as of 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 GMT), eyeing its best month since November 2022 gaining around 8% so far.

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IRON ORE - Iron ore futures were mixed on Thursday, with China's Dalian contract falling for athird consecutive day, hurt by a slow start to China's construction season and higher supply from Brazil.

The most-traded May iron ore on the Dalian Commodity Exchange TIO1! closed 1.9% lower at 797 yuan ($110.27) per metric ton.

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BASE METALS - Copper and aluminium prices rose in London on Thursday as traders squared positions ahead of the end of the first quarter, which coincides with the Easter weekend in the UK.

Three-month copper HG1! on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 0.3% at $8,870.5 a metric ton by 1701 GMT.

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OIL - Oil prices jumped more than $1 a barrel on Thursday, closing out the month higher on the prospect of OPEC+ staying the course on production cuts, ongoing attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure and a falling U.S. rig count tightening crude supplies.

Brent crude futures for May BRN1! settled at $87.48 a barrel, its highest level since Oct. 27, after gaining $1.39, or 1.6%.

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PALM OIL - Malaysian palm oil futures fell for a second straight session to a two-week closing low on Wednesday, mirroring losses in rival oils.

The benchmark palm oil contract FCPO1! for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 101 ringgit, or 2.38% to 4,135 ringgit ($874.39) a metric ton at closing, the lowest close since March 13.

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RUBBER - Japanese rubber futures closed higher for a third consecutive session on Thursday, reversing early losses on a technical rebound, while higher oil prices lent support.

The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for September delivery TRB1!, TRB1! rose 5 yen or 1.56%, at 326.2 yen ($2.16).

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