Asian markets mixed as economic numbers influence market sentiment

[Stock Markets Open On Friday Morning]
Spencer Platt/Getty Images News

Asian indexes stocks traded mixed on Friday, with flash PMI estimates from across the globe expected today. On the trade front, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday urged Asian countries to reduce non-tariff barriers and deepen regional trade integration to lower the vulnerability to U.S. tariffs. Gold prices fell to around $4,110 per ounce, on track to end its nine-week winning streak.

Japan (NKY:IND [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NKY:IND]) gained 1.48%, after key economic numbers were released.

The Japanese yen weakens despite inflation accelerating. [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4508053-japanese-yen-weakens-despite-inflation-accelerating#source=url_first_level%3Amarket-news%7Csection%3Amarket-pulse%7Csection_asset%3Anews_title]Japan’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.9% in September 2025 from August’s 10-month low of 2.7%.

The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing PMI declined to 48.3 in October 2025, from September’s six-month low of 48.5 and below market forecasts of 48.6, preliminary estimates showed.

China (SHCOMP [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SHCOMP]) +0.22%, with the former reaching fresh ten-year highs after the White House confirmed the Trump-Xi meeting next Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC summit. Trump said he aims to extend the pause on higher tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for concessions on soybean purchases, fentanyl controls, and rare earth exports, among others. The offshore yuan held steady around 7.12 per dollar.

On the other hand, China’s Communist Party on Thursday outlined key priorities for its upcoming Five-Year Plan, following a four-day closed-door meeting in Beijing, known as the fourth plenum.

Hong Kong (HSI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HSI]) +0.59% extending gains from the prior session amid broad gains across sectors. Sentiment strengthened after the White House confirmed that U.S. President Trump will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on October 30.

India (SENSEX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SENSEX]) fell 0.35%.

Australia (AS51 [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AS51]) fell 0.15%, trading in a tight range as investors braced for the upcoming key quarterly inflation figures that could influence the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy outlook.

Australia's flash PMI estimates show drop in factory activity [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4508055-australias-flash-pmi-estimates-show-drop-in-factory-activity#source=url_first_level%3Amarket-news%7Csection%3Amarket-pulse%7Csection_asset%3Anews_title]

In the U.S. on Thursday, Wall Street finished higher [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4507545-wall-street-dow-sp500-nasdaq] as investors assessed Tesla's (TSLA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TSLA]) earnings and received news that President Trump will meet with President Xi next Thursday.

U.S. stock futures traded higher: Dow (INDU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/INDU]) +0.16%; S&P 500 (SPX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SPX]) +0.26%; Nasdaq (US100:IND [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/US100:IND]) +0.39%.

CURRENCIES: (JPY:USD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/JPY:USD]), (CNY:USD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CNY:USD]), (AUD:USD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AUD:USD]), (INR:USD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/INR:USD]), (HKD:USD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HKD:USD]), (NZD:USD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NZD:USD]).

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