· Asian shares hit 6-1/2-month highs on Friday after upbeat U.S. data and optimism in the tech sector lifted Wall Street stocks, helping calm some of the jitters sparked by the Federal Reserve’s cautious outlook on the world’s biggest economy.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.3 percent, led by 0.5 percent gains in the info tech sector, while Japan’s Nikkei bucked the trend and lost 0.2 percent.
“I’d think optimism in the tech sector is the biggest driver now. It reflects expectations that the U.S. and China will eventually reach a trade deal,” said Soichiro Monji, senior economist at Daiwa SB Investments.
· Japan’s Nikkei ended little changed on Friday as chip-related stocks offset weakness in financial stocks and drugmakers, which tumbled after Eisai said it will end its Alzheimer drug trials.
The Nikkei share average closed up a scant 0.1 percent at 1,627.34 points, after flitting in and out of positive and negative territory. The index rose 0.8 percent for the week.
Eisai Co nose-dived 17 percent to a daily-limit low of 7,565 yen after the drugmaker and its partner Biogen Inc said they are ending two trials of their experimental Alzheimer’s disease drug aducanumab.
· China stocks ended almost flat on Friday ahead of a new round of Sino-U.S. trade talks next week, but posted weekly gains of about 2.5 percent on expectations of more policy measures to spur growth in the world’s second-largest economy.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.1 percent, to 3,833.80, while the Shanghai Composite Index was flat, at 3,104.15 points. ** For the week, CSI300 rose 2.4 percent, while SSEC gained 2.7 percent.
· U.S. stock index futures were lower Friday morning, amid jitters sparked by the Federal Reserve's cautious outlook for the world's largest economy.
At around 03:25 a.m. ET, Dow futures slipped 38 points, indicating a negative open of more than 14 points. Futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were seen mixed.
The U.S. central bank surprised investors by adopting a sharp dovish stance on Wednesday, projecting no further interest rate hikes this year and ending its balance sheet roll-offs.
· European stocks were slightly higher Friday, despite concerns over the Federal Reserve's subdued outlook and ongoing Brexit uncertainty weigh on sentiment.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was nearly 0.2 percent higher shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory.
In other central bank news, the Bank of England also kept rates unchanged on Thursday, and said its economic outlook would "continue to depend significantly" on the "nature and timing" of Brexit.
· Thailand is heading to the polls on Sunday in its first general election since a military coup in 2014.
The country has long been politically split between populists largely tapping into the rural and poorer sections of the population, and their opponents who tend to support the military and win votes from the urban middle class and elites.
A new constitution, introduced under the military leadership, changed the electoral process in a way that makes it likely it will retain control.
This means the country looks set to remain deeply divided between pro-military forces and their populist opponents.
So who's expected to win?
If all goes well for the military, the coup leader and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will stay in power, backed by a political majority.
If things don't go well for them, he is likely to remain in power - but with a minority government facing political gridlock.
Reference: CNBC, Reuters, BBC
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