Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Friday as investors awaited China’s April trade data, amid growing concerns that ongoing United States tariffs could dampen export growth from the world’s second-largest economy.
By 11 am AEST (1 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1%, while South Korea’s Kospi 200 was unchanged at 2,578.8. Japan’s Nikkei 225 led regional gains, climbing 1%.
Investor sentiment was tempered by economic data from Japan, where real wages declined for a third consecutive month in March.
According to the Statistics Bureau of Japan, inflation-adjusted wages fell 2.1% year-on-year, following a revised 1.5% drop in February and a 2.8% fall in January.
Meanwhile, China's exports rose 8.1% in April, above expectations of a 1.9% increase amid strong demand from Southeast Asia, while imports dipped 0.2% versus an expected decline of 5.9%.
Overtime pay also declined at its fastest pace in nearly a year, underlining pressure on household purchasing power amid stubborn inflation.
In the U.S., stock indices closed higher after President Donald Trump unveiled the broad outlines of a trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
It is the first such deal since the U.S. temporarily suspended sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs in April. However, the deal remains preliminary, with no formal documents signed and few details confirmed.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both rose 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.1%, supported by optimism over trade developments and corporate earnings.
Commodity prices showed divergent trends. Brent crude climbed 2.8% to US$62.84 per barrel, while spot gold declined 1.7% to US$3,306.0 per ounce as risk appetite improved.
In China, equities rose on Thursday. The Shanghai Composite gained 0.3% to 3,352.0, while the CSI 300 advanced 0.6% to 3,852.9.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also rose, up 84.0 points or 0.4% to 22,775.9.
India’s BSE Sensex, however, declined 0.5% to 80,334.8.
In Europe, markets also traded mixed. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 slipped 0.3% to 8,531.6, while Germany’s DAX rose 1% to 23,352.7 and France’s CAC 40 added 0.9% to 7,694.4.
