Asian stocks ended mixed on Friday after reports suggested Russian forces have been repositioning with a goal of focusing on securing the separatist republics in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Disappointing economic data from China and Japan also clouded the outlook for already fragile global growth.
The dollar extended a rebound versus major peers as investors awaited the March U.S. jobs data due out later in the day for cues on inflation and the Fed's policy stance.
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Business News
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.