Global equities showed a mixed trend on Friday as market participants remained cautious ahead of next week’s deadline for potential tariff hikes linked to U.S. trade policy developments.
In Asia, most key indices ended lower amid uncertainty over pending trade agreements and global economic cues. South Korea’s Kospi led the losses, tumbling nearly 2%, weighed down by weakness in tech and export-oriented stocks. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong declined by over 0.6%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index slipped 0.15%.
In contrast, China’s Shanghai Composite edged up over 0.3%, supported by optimism around domestic stimulus measures. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed marginally lower, holding steady as investors balanced earnings optimism against external trade risks.
Across Europe, major indices were trading in the red during intraday sessions. France’s CAC 40 fell by nearly 1%, Germany’s DAX was down approximately 0.7%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 dipped over 0.2%, amid renewed concerns about inflation, monetary policy, and global trade friction.
Investor sentiment globally remains fragile as markets await clarity on U.S. tariff decisions and macroeconomic data releases expected early next week.
