Asian stock markets showed mixed performance on Friday, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index falling 0.5% while Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 0.3%. Higher-than-expected US inflation data fueled concerns about the Federal Reserve's rate hike path, influencing regional investor sentiment.
Asian stock markets displayed a mixed performance on Friday as investors digested higher-than-expected US inflation data, which reignited concerns about potentially more aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.5%, primarily dragged down by technology stocks, while Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 0.3%, benefiting from strong banking sector performance. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed marginally higher by 0.1%. Malaysia's KLCI was also influenced by regional sentiment, closing slightly up but under pressure for the entire week. Analysts noted that global macroeconomic factors, particularly the direction of US monetary policy, will continue to be a key driver for Asian markets' short-term movements. Investors will closely monitor more economic data scheduled for release next week.
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