· U.S. stock index futures were lower on Friday morning on the back of weaker-than-expected retail data.
At around 2:30 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 99, indicating a negative open of more than 115 points. Futures on the S&P and Nasdaq were also seen slightly lower.
On Thursday, U.S. retail sales data showed a contraction of 1.2 percent in December – the biggest monthly fall since September of 2009. As a result, Wall Street ended the day lower.
In the meantime, investors continue to follow news of U.S.-China trade talks. According to the South China Morning Post, Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with U.S. delegates on Friday, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
· European stocks opened mixed Friday morning, after weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales figures raised fresh doubts about the strength of the world's largest economy.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was flat shortly after the opening bell, with sectors and major bourses pointing in opposite directions.
Market focus is largely attuned to global trade developments, with market participants in wait-and-see mode as high-level U.S.-China trade talks continue in Beijing on Friday.
Both sides had said they were hopeful the latest set of negotiations, which began at the start of the week, could bring them closer to a comprehensive agreement before a March 1 deadline.
Elsewhere, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to call a snap general election on Friday. It comes after parliament rejected his minority government's 2019 budget proposal.
· Asian stocks fell on Friday, retreating from four-month highs after data out of China raised concerns over deflationary pressures building in the world’s second biggest economy.
The broader equity markets had already been under pressure after Thursday’s weak U.S. retail sales figures triggered fresh doubts about the strength of the world’s largest economy.
That offsetting some cautious optimism over trade talks in Beijing between the United States and China.
Also casting a shadow, the White House said U.S. President Donald Trump will declare a national emergency to try to obtain funds for his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall, drawing immediate criticism from Democrats.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, which had scaled a four-month high midweek on factors including expectations for reduced U.S.-China trade tensions, was down 1 percent.
· Japan’s Nikkei fell on Friday as bleak U.S. retail sales data dampened investor risk appetite and dragged down the broader market, with exporters and financial firms underperforming.
The Nikkei share average dropped 1.1 percent to 20,900.63, retreating from a two-month high of 21,235.62 hit on Thursday. For the week, the index rose 2.8 percent.
“The Japanese market enjoyed a short-term rally but the upside seems limited as there are still concerns about global slowdown in the mid to long term,” said Shogo Maekawa, a global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management.
· China stocks retreated on Friday, after latest official data raised deflation fears, while investors were worried about uncertainties over the Sino-U.S. trade negotiations.
The blue-chip CSI300 index ended down 1.9 percent at 3,338.70, while the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 1.9 percent to 2,682.39.
However, for the week, major indexes gained as risk appetite improved after the end of the Lunar New Year holiday. SSEC gained 2.5 percent, while CSI300 was up 2.8 percent, both posting their biggest weekly gain in three months.
Reference: CNBC, Reuters
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