Asia Mixed Amid Flood of Data

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Friday as investors assess a slew of economic data from the region.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 regained 174.6 points, or 0.3%, to 37,160.47.

Japan’s core inflation accelerated to 3.5% in April, government data showed Friday, bolstered in part by surging rice prices, as the central bank considers pausing its rate-hike stance to assess the effects of U.S. tariffs.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng regrouped 56.95 points, or 0.2%, to 23,601.26.

Investors are also parsing South Korea’s PPI figures for April and New Zealand’s retail sales for the first quarter of the year.

Singapore’s core inflation in April grew 0.7% year on year, higher than Reuters’ forecast of a 0.5% climb.

CHINA

In China, the CSI 300 inched back 31.59 points, or 0.8%, to 3,882.27.

The U.S. and China agreed to maintain communication following a call between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and U.S. Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau, according to a readout released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.

In other markets

In Korea, the Kospi index let go of 1.58 points, or 0.1%, to 2,592.06

In Taiwan, the Taiex Index weakened 18.72 points, or 0.1%, to 21,652.24

In Singapore, the Straits Times index recovered 2.33 points, or 0.1%, to 3,882.42

In New Zealand, the NZX 50 stumbled 65.76 points, or 0.5%, to 12,596.50.

In Australia, the ASX 200 pointed higher 12.33 points, or 0.2%, to 8,360.88