asian stocks looked set for a steady start friday after a bout of weakness in global shares due to a slowdown in the pandemic recovery and the prospect of reduced central bank stimulus equity futures for japan australia and hong kong pointed to modest gains us contracts fluctuated after the sp 500 dropped for a fourth session the longest losing streak since june and the techheavy nasdaq 100 retreated reports showed a decline in us jobless claims but also more disruption from the delta virus variant including microsoft corp’s move to scrap plans to fully reopen its offices