Asian Market

 Asian stocks looked set to pull back at the start of a new month after most U.S. stocks retreated, even though technology shares extended gains. Futures pointed to modest losses in Japan, Australia and Hong Kong. The S&P 500 Index edged lower, still notching a fifth consecutive monthly advance in August. The dollar weakened against its Group-of-10 peers, set for a fifth monthly decline in a row. Treasuries advanced, with 10-year yields slipping to just above 0.70%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average led losses after its components were revamped, with Microsoft and Walmart slumping on concern China could block a possible sale of the video app TikTok. Apple’s surge as the stock split 4-for-1 lifted the Nasdaq 100 past 12,000 for the first time. Elsewhere, oil fell back below $43 a barrel as a surge in coronavirus in the world’s major economies outweighed improvement in China’s economic activity. Silver rose, outperforming gold.