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· Asian stocks jumped on Friday, lifted by White House comments that suggested the possibility of an imminent trade deal between Washington and Beijing, which revived hopes that their tariff war may be nearing an end.

However, investor sentiment remains fragile after weak data from China reinforced concerns about the global economy and amid increasing caution about false signs of progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks.

Providing a fillip to investor confidence in early Asian trade, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Washington was getting close to a trade agreement with China.

That helped to lift MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.57%. Japan’s Nikkei added 0.7% and Australian shares gained 0.87%.

· Japanese stocks rebounded on Friday as White House comments that Washington and Beijing were close to striking a trade deal sparked buying in cyclical and financials.

The benchmark Nikkei share average rose 0.7% to 23,303.32, though it was 0.4% down for the week.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Thursday an agreement with China could be reached soon, providing a fillip to investor confidence.

The broader Topix gained 0.7% to 1,696.67, with all but two of its 33 subsectors finishing in positive territory.

· China stocks fell on Friday to end the week lower, with the country’s blue-chip index posting its biggest weekly decline in more than three months, amid uncertainty around the Sino-U.S. trade deal while investors sought more clues on Beijing’s policy support in the midst of a slowing economy.

The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.7%, to 3,877.09, while the Shanghai Composite Index ended down 0.6% at 2,891.34 points.

· European stocks opened higher Friday morning as traders digest optimistic sounds out of the White House on a prospective trade deal between the U.S. and China.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 jumped 0.5% at the opening bell, with basic resources climbing 1.6% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses traded in positive territory.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow claimed on Thursday that phase one of a trade deal between the world’s two largest economies was “getting close,” according to Reuters, while Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng continued Beijing’s call for a removal of existing tariffs.