Asian markets settle higher on Friday
Chinese shares gained following the release of inflation data that showed factory-gate prices returning to growth for the first time in over three years
Asian markets settled higher on Friday tracking Wall Street’s gains overnight, even as investors remained cautious about the fragility of the ceasefire in the Middle East, with Iran accusing the US and Israel of violating the agreement. Market sentiments improved further after the White House confirmed that President Donald Trump is sending a high-level delegation led by Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad, Pakistan, this weekend for talks with Iran aimed at securing a more durable ceasefire following a two-week truce. Chinese shares gained following the release of inflation data that showed factory-gate prices returning to growth for the first time in over three years. Moreover, South Korean shares rose after the Bank of Korea (BoK) maintained its benchmark interest rate at 2.50% for the seventh consecutive meeting, in line with market expectations.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,986.23 | 20.05 | 0.51 |
| Hang Seng | 25,893.54 | 141.14 | 0.55 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,458.50 | 150.91 | 2.07 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,691.31 | 5.07 | 0.30 |
| Nikkei 225 | 56,924.11 | 1,028.79 | 1.84 |
| Straits Times | 4,989.41 | 12.33 | 0.25 |
| KOSPI Composite | 5,858.87 | 80.86 | 1.40 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 35,417.83 | 556.67 | 1.60 |
