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UK PM Burnham to Unveil Economic Vision at Labour Conference 
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Trump, Xi Focus on Trade and AI at White House Summit 
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
US 10-Year Treasury Yield at 6% Emerges as New Market Risk Threshold 
Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High as Yen Approaches 160 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
Oil Prices Fall on U.S.-Iran Hormuz Deal Hopes 
US Stock Futures Fall as Treasury Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
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Asian stock markets climbed on Friday, led by Japan’s Nikkei 225, amid renewed global trade optimism after the United States and United Kingdom reached a trade deal framework. The agreement retained a 10% U.S. tariff on British goods, while the UK slashed tariffs on U.S. imports from 5.1% to 1.8%. The deal also exempts steel and aluminum imports from Trump’s 25% tariffs, further fueling risk appetite in regional equities.
President Trump hinted at upcoming trade negotiations with China, with talks set to begin over the weekend. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also noted that the administration plans to announce multiple new trade deals while maintaining a baseline 10% tariff.
The Nikkei 225 jumped 1.5%, supported by a weaker yen, while the broader TOPIX index added 1.3%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.6%. The Philippines’ PSEi advanced 1.2%, benefiting from improved regional sentiment.
South Korea’s KOSPI was little changed, and India’s Nifty 50 futures inched up 0.2% despite rising geopolitical tensions with Pakistan. India reported intercepting drone and missile attacks in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur.
In contrast, Chinese stocks fell as trade data showed mixed results. The Shanghai Composite slipped 0.3%, and the CSI 300 declined 0.4%. While exports rose 8.1% year-on-year—well above forecasts—import declines narrowed to 0.2%, beating expectations of a steeper drop. The data pointed to resilient domestic and external demand amid tariff headwinds.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.4%. Market participants now await China’s April CPI inflation figures, due Saturday, for further economic cues.
Global investors remained cautiously optimistic as Wall Street gains and easing trade tensions supported Asian markets.
