Asian stock markets are trading mostly lower on Friday, following the broadly negative cues overnight from global markets, dragged by materials and energy stocks amid tumbling commodity prices. Traders also remain concerned about the global economic outlook and the possibility of a recession as central bank chiefs have reaffirmed their resolve to pare inflation despite threats to economic growth. Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday.
The Australian stock market is slightly higher on Friday, recouping some of the losses in the previous two sessions, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 below the 6,600 level, despite the broadly negative cues overnight from global markets, supported by financial and technology stocks, partially offset by weakness in materials and energy stocks amid tumbling commodity prices.
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Business News
May 08, 2026 15:50 ET Manufacturing and services sector survey results and labor market data from main economies were the highlight on the economics news front this week. Factory orders and jobs report dominated the news flow in the U.S. Similarly, industrial production data from German garnered attention in Europe. In Asia, purchasing managers’ survey results from China and the central bank decision from Australia were in focus.