Asian stock markets are trading mostly lower on Friday, following the broadly negative cues from global markets overnight, as traders continue to be concerned about the outlook for interest rates and the impact higher rates will have on the economy. A continued rebound by US treasury yields also weighed on the markets. Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday.
Traders are also cautiously looking ahead to the release of the US Labor Department's closely watched monthly employment report later in the day, which will provide clues about the US Fed's future monetary policy moves.
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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.