European stocks may drift lower on Friday as a batch of upbeat economic data from the United States helped quell fears of an imminent recession but revived rate hike fears.
Asian stocks traded mostly lower, with Chinese and Hong Kong markets bucking the regional trend, after China's housing minister Ni Hong urged efforts to help ease a protracted property slump.
The yen advanced in volatile trading after the Bank of Japan tweaked its ultra-loose monetary policy, prompting a surge in government bond yields.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.