European stocks are seen opening higher on Friday as the focus shifted from inflation to ongoing economic recovery.
Asian markets gave up some early gains to trade mixed as a survey showed Japan's factory activity expanded at a slower pace in May and activity in the service sector contracted at the fastest pace in nine months.
Japan is expected to expand a state of emergency to cover the island of Okinawa today, even as some other G7 countries begin to end coronavirus-led lockdowns.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.