· Asian shares scaled three-month highs on Friday as a surprise bounce in Chinese manufacturing activity eclipsed doubts raised by a Bloomberg news report over whether the United States and China can reach a long-term trade deal.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS reversed early losses to touch fresh three-month highs, and was last up 0.4%.
· Japan’s benchmark Nikkei share average fell on Friday as fresh concerns over the prospects for a U.S.-China trade deal lifted the safe-haven yen against the dollar, hitting exporters and other cyclical stocks.
The Nikkei average closed down 0.3% at 22,850.77, after falling to as low as 22,705.60, its lowest since Oct. 24.
· Chinese shares rose on Friday to finish the week higher on stronger-than-expected factory activity data and growing optimism around a potential trade deal between the United States and China.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 1% at 2,958.20, up 0.1% from the previous week. The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 1.7%, up 1.4% week-on-week.
· European stocks opened slightly higher Friday morning, as investors monitored global trade developments.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up around 0.3% shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory.
An unexpected bounce in Chinese manufacturing activity appeared to boost sentiment on Friday.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
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