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Asian markets were mostly flat to negative on Friday. Japan’s Nikkei dropped after its Q1 GDP shrank 0.7%—much worse than expected—mainly due to weak exports and low local spending. This raised hopes that the Bank of Japan might pause rate hikes. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell over 1% as Alibaba shares tumbled 5% after missing Q4 revenue and cloud earnings estimates. JD.com also declined, showing weak consumer demand in China. However, Netease surged over 15% on strong results. Chinese indices fell slightly, but still ended the week higher due to a temporary trade tariff cut between the U.S. and China. Investors, however, remain cautious as no permanent trade deal is in sight. Australian stocks outperformed, with the ASX 200 hitting a two-month high on hopes of a rate cut. U.S. futures traded mildly lower, while Gift Nifty hinted at a soft opening in India after a strong rally earlier this week.

Asian markets cooled off on Thursday after a strong tech-led rally earlier in the week. Investors are now waiting for Alibaba’s earnings, which could reflect better Chinese consumer and cloud demand. Optimism over a U.S.-China trade deal is fading, as tariffs still remain high. Regional markets were mixed after a flat Wall Street close, and attention is now on a speech by U.S. Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Japan’s Nikkei dropped over 1% ahead of GDP data expected to show a contraction due to weak spending, though higher wages may support growth later in the year. China’s markets slipped slightly but held weekly gains. Tech stocks, especially those linked to AI, saw some pressure after a warning from Coreweave on rising costs. Meanwhile, Australia’s better-than-expected jobs report reduced chances of a rate cut, lifting the ASX slightly. Singapore’s market edged higher, while Indian markets may open softer after recent gains from easing geopolitical tensions.

Asian stock markets were mixed on Wednesday. Hong Kong and South Korea gained over 1.5%, helped by strong tech performance on Wall Street, especially NVIDIA’s rally after a major AI chip deal. Japan’s markets, however, fell as the yen strengthened due to rising expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike, which hurts exporters. U.S.-China trade tensions eased slightly, with both countries agreeing to temporarily cut tariffs for 90 days, but the rally from that news seemed to fade as focus shifted to upcoming trade talks. Chinese markets were flat, as the tariff deal reduced hopes for more government stimulus. Elsewhere, markets in Australia and Singapore were slightly lower, and India’s futures remained flat due to geopolitical tensions. The next key watch will be the BOJ meeting on May 19-20, where rate decisions may impact Japanese markets further, especially with wholesale inflation rising to 4% in April, keeping pressure on policy tightening.

Asian markets mostly moved higher on Tuesday after the U.S. and China announced a major cut in trade tariffs, signaling a clear deescalation in their long-standing trade war. Japan and Australia led the gains, while Chinese stocks lagged due to profit-booking and doubts over fresh stimulus from Beijing. Analysts believe reduced trade tension may delay further fiscal support from China. Meanwhile, investors are watching out for U.S. inflation data, which could affect global sentiment. In India, stocks are likely to open slightly lower after a strong 4% rally in the previous session, which was driven by relief over a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Pakistan. However, local markets may take a breather now, awaiting key consumer inflation data expected to show further cooling in April. Overall, the tone in Asia is optimistic, but some markets like China and India may see limited upside in the short term due to recent gains and pending data cues.

Asian stock markets rose on Monday, led by China, after signs of a trade deal between the U.S. and China lifted investor sentiment. The Shanghai Composite, Hang Seng, and Nifty 50 all posted strong gains, with India’s Nifty jumping nearly 3% as tensions with Pakistan eased following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. U.S. futures also rallied, indicating positive momentum for global equities. However, gains were capped in some markets due to a sharp drop in pharmaceutical stocks. This came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to cut drug prices by up to 80%, affecting pharma companies in Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Meanwhile, India’s pharma stocks underperformed the broader market. Overall, investors welcomed signs of reduced geopolitical risks and improved trade relations, but remained cautious as the full details of the U.S.-China deal were yet to be disclosed. Market volumes were slightly lower due to holidays in parts of Southeast Asia.

Asian stock markets mostly rose on Friday, led by Japan’s Nikkei, after the U.S. and U.K. signed a new trade deal framework. This boosted hopes for similar deals, especially with China. The Nikkei jumped 1.5%, supported by a weaker yen, while other Asian indexes like Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines also saw gains. However, China’s markets dipped slightly despite trade data showing stronger-than-expected exports and improving import trends, reflecting stable demand. Investors are now waiting for China’s inflation data due Saturday. U.S. markets had gained the previous night, and futures remained steady during Asian hours. Meanwhile, India’s Nifty 50 edged up slightly despite rising tensions with Pakistan after drone and missile incidents. Overall, markets are reacting positively to easing global trade tensions, though geopolitical risks and upcoming economic data are being watched closely.

Most Asian currencies remained stable on Thursday as traders awaited clarity from upcoming U.S.-China trade talks. The U.S. dollar stayed strong after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and signaled no rate cuts in the near future, putting pressure on Asian currencies. Market sentiment was cautious due to rising military tensions between India and Pakistan. The Chinese yuan dipped slightly even as both countries confirmed trade discussions in Switzerland, with expectations of a U.S.-China deal remaining low. The Japanese yen and South Korean won gained modestly, while the Singapore dollar was flat. The Australian dollar recovered some losses, and the Indian rupee weakened slightly after geopolitical tensions spiked. The Taiwan dollar dropped after volatile moves, but the country stands to gain from any positive outcome in U.S.-China trade relations. Overall, uncertainty over trade, inflation, and interest rates is keeping Asian markets in a tight range, with traders closely watching for any major updates.

Asian stock markets mostly moved higher on Wednesday, led by gains in Chinese stocks after news of upcoming trade talks with the U.S. lifted investor hopes of easing trade tensions. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 1.5%, while China’s markets rose about 0.5%, helped by expectations of more economic support from the central bank. U.S. futures also climbed in Asian trading after a weak Wall Street session. However, not all markets were upbeat — Indian stocks faced pressure as military tensions with Pakistan escalated, although futures pointed to a positive open. The conflict follows a recent deadly attack in Kashmir, raising concerns over further instability. Broader Asian markets traded cautiously ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting, with Australia, Japan, and South Korea posting modest gains. Singapore’s market dipped, pulled down by weaker bank earnings. Overall, sentiment remained mixed, driven by geopolitics, trade talks, and monetary policy expectations.

Asian currencies mostly weakened on Tuesday as the US dollar held steady, with markets watching for updates on US-China trade talks and an upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. Trading volumes were low due to holidays in Japan and South Korea, while Chinese markets reopened after their Labor Day break. The Chinese yuan jumped to a six-week high on hopes of progress in trade discussions. Meanwhile, the Taiwan dollar dropped sharply, making it Asia’s weakest performer, while the Indian rupee, Singapore dollar, and South Korean won saw modest losses against the US dollar. The Australian dollar slipped after strong gains last week. The US dollar held recent gains but remained down over the past three months, weighed by concerns over the US economy and ongoing policy uncertainty. Investors are now focusing on the Federal Reserve’s meeting, where interest rates are expected to remain unchanged amid weak economic signals and persistent inflation