Charting the Markets: Gearing Up for U.S. Jobs Report

Only one thing matters to global investors today: The U.S. job report. It's the final major piece of economic data before the Federal Reserve announces its latest interest rate decision on Sept. 17. Asian stocks resumed their slide after a one-day bounce which was prompted by a two-day Chinese holiday to commemorate the end of World War II. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell as much a 1.5 percent, its fourth drop in five days. The gauge is on track for its seventh weekly decline, the longest losing stretch since June 2011.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell for a third session following a one-day holiday. The equity benchmark also sank for a seventh week, the worst streak since 2008. Anxieties persist about China's economic malaise and possible U.S. interest rate hikes. The Hang Seng is the worst-performing developed stock market this quarter. It's now trading 27 percent below April's 2007 high and closed Friday at its lowest level in two years.