AFP, Hong Kong :
Asian markets were mixed Friday as a volatile week drew to a close with investors preparing for the start of the corporate earnings season.
With few fresh developments on the China-US trade talks, the rally that characterised the first three months of the year appears to be running out of steam, while Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs against Europe has jolted confidence.
Data Friday showed China’s imports falling more than expected in March, signalling ongoing fragility in the world’s number two economy, even as exports enjoyed a sharp rise.
Total imports sank 7.6 percent on-year last month while exports rose 14.2 percent, the data from China’s customs administration showed.
Economists polled by Bloomberg had expected a slight 0.2 percent rise in imports with exports projected to grow 6.5 percent.
The readings come after a run of positive releases from Beijing including forecast-beating factory activity and a jump in inflation in the world’s second largest economy.
“Recent improvements in China activity data… expectations of further feed-through from policy stimulus to the real economy and signs of some partial form of US-China trade truce have all given rise to a more bullish China sentiment,” said Jasslyn Yeo, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management.
With Wall Street providing a weak lead, Asian equities struggled for direction.
Tokyo finished 0.7 percent higher as the dollar’s rebound encouraged buying, while Shanghai pared earlier losses to close marginally down.
Hong Kong closed up 0.2 percent, while Sydney and Seoul both ended the day well into positive territory. Singapore was down in late trade.
London’s benchmark index rose in early trade.
The business reporting season gets underway Friday in the United States and observers will be looking for a read of the corporate landscape in the first three months of the year.
Asian markets were mixed Friday as a volatile week drew to a close with investors preparing for the start of the corporate earnings season.
With few fresh developments on the China-US trade talks, the rally that characterised the first three months of the year appears to be running out of steam, while Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs against Europe has jolted confidence.
Data Friday showed China’s imports falling more than expected in March, signalling ongoing fragility in the world’s number two economy, even as exports enjoyed a sharp rise.
Total imports sank 7.6 percent on-year last month while exports rose 14.2 percent, the data from China’s customs administration showed.
Economists polled by Bloomberg had expected a slight 0.2 percent rise in imports with exports projected to grow 6.5 percent.
The readings come after a run of positive releases from Beijing including forecast-beating factory activity and a jump in inflation in the world’s second largest economy.
“Recent improvements in China activity data… expectations of further feed-through from policy stimulus to the real economy and signs of some partial form of US-China trade truce have all given rise to a more bullish China sentiment,” said Jasslyn Yeo, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management.
With Wall Street providing a weak lead, Asian equities struggled for direction.
Tokyo finished 0.7 percent higher as the dollar’s rebound encouraged buying, while Shanghai pared earlier losses to close marginally down.
Hong Kong closed up 0.2 percent, while Sydney and Seoul both ended the day well into positive territory. Singapore was down in late trade.
London’s benchmark index rose in early trade.
The business reporting season gets underway Friday in the United States and observers will be looking for a read of the corporate landscape in the first three months of the year.
