Asia-Pacific markets opened higher on Friday after United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday formally reducing Japanese auto import tariffs from 27.5% to 15%.
By 11:15 am AEST (1:15 am GMT), Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 had added 0.1%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.8%, and South Korea’s Kospi 200 rose 0.2%.
Data released in Japan showed household spending increased 1.7% in July on a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, surpassing forecasts of a 1.3% rise, according to the internal affairs ministry.
In the U.S., major benchmarks closed higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.8%, the S&P 500 adding 0.8% to a fresh record close, and the Nasdaq Composite advancing 1%.
Commodities showed mixed movements. Brent crude fell 0.9% to US$66.99 per barrel, while spot gold eased 0.4% to US$1,545.87 per ounce, ending a seven-session winning streak.
Meanwhile, Chinese equities struggled, with the Shanghai Composite down 1.3% to 3,765.9 and the CSI 300 dropping 2.1% to 4,365.2.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index finished 1.1% lower at 25,058.5, while India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.2% to 80,718.0.
European markets closed mixed on Thursday, with the FTSE 100 rising 0.4% to 9,216.9, the DAX gaining 0.7% to 23,770.3, and the CAC 40 falling 0.3% to 7,698.9.
