Asian stocks moved mostly higher on Friday as trade-war fears receded and investors awaited the latest U.S. jobs report to gauge the economic impact of the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
According to analyst estimates, U.S. employment is expected to plunge by about 22 million jobs in April, driving the unemployment rate up to 14.0 percent.
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April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.