Asian stock markets are trading mostly lower on Friday, following the mixed cues from global markets overnight, as the latest batch of upbeat economic data from the U.S. renewed concerns about the outlook for interest rates. Data showing a lower than expected GDP growth in Japan also hurt investor sentiment. Asian markets ended mostly lower on Thursday.
Further, China reported weak trade figures for August, adding to worries about slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy.
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Business News
May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.