Asian stock markets are trading mostly higher on Friday, despite the broadly negative cues from global markets overnight, as traders remained cautious even as worries eased about interest rates following data showing cooling US inflation. The US Fed is widely expected to further slow the pace of rate hikes to 25 basis points at its next meeting. Asian markets ended mixed on Thursday.
The Australian stock market is modestly higher in choppy trading on Friday, extending the gains in the previous two sessions, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 staying above the 7,400 level, despite the broadly negative cues from global markets overnight, with gains is mining and energy stocks amid continued strength in commodity prices.
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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.