Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Friday, despite the broadly negative cues from Wall Street overnight, with traders remaining largely cautious after data showing stronger than expected US private jobs growth points to continued strength in the labor market, which will see the lower interest rate hikes to continue. Asian markets ended mostly higher on Thursday.
Traders also await the key U.S. monthly jobs data due later in the day that could influence the US Fed's policy trajectory.
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Business News
April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.