Asia stock markets trade higher on Friday, taking cues from a mixed trading session on Wall Street that followed the U.S. Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cuts. Sentiment across the region received a further boost after President commented at the Central Economic Work Conference that 2025 has been "a truly extraordinary year" and affirmed that China is on track to meet its major economic targets.

Gold traded around $4,270 per ounce on Friday, holding near a seven-week high and heading for a weekly gain, supported by expectations of further US monetary easing.

Retail sales in Malaysia increased by 6.8% year-on-year in October 2025, easing from September’s eight-month high of 7%.

Japan (NKY:IND) rose 1.32% to above 50,900, while the broader Topix Index advanced 1.8% to 3,418 on Friday, reversing the prior session’s losses. The Japanese yen held around 155.6 on Friday after two consecutive sessions of gains, supported by speculation that the Bank of Japan may raise interest rates next week and continue tightening into 2026.

Japan’s industrial production rose 1.5% month-on-month in October 2025, slightly above the flash estimate of 1.4% but slower than the 2.6% increase in September.

China (SHCOMP) rose 0.31% to around 3,860 while the Shenzhen Component gained 0.5% to 13,213 on Friday, with mainland stocks showing mixed performances as China’s annual economic planning meeting failed to boost market sentiment, and the offshore yuan traded around 7.05 per dollar on Friday, hovering near its strongest level in more than a year.

At the annual Central Economic Work Conference, policymakers reaffirmed broad economic support for the year ahead, including proactive fiscal measures aimed at boosting consumption and investment, though analysts expect only modest monetary easing from the central bank. Official 2026 economic growth targets will be announced following the annual parliamentary session in March.

In his speech, President described 2025 as “a truly extraordinary year,” noting that major economic and social targets will be achieved.

Hong Kong (HSI) rose 1.68% to 25,806 in early Friday trade after a slight pullback in the prior session, lifted by broad sector gains.

Sentiment improved after President said at the Central Economic Work Conference that 2025 is “a truly extraordinary year” and major targets will be met.

India (SENSEX) rose 0.22% to 85,076 in Friday morning trade, extending gains from the previous session.

Traders await November inflation data due later today, with the market expecting inflation to have accelerated but to remain within the RBI’s target range, boosting hopes of further rate cuts at the upcoming meeting.

Australia (AS51) rose 1.23% to above 8,680 on Friday, extending the prior session’s gains to hit its highest level in four weeks, and on track for its third consecutive weekly advance.

In the U.S. on Thursday, all three major indexes ended mixed as investors rotated out of richly valued tech names and into cyclicals and beaten down value stocks after the Fed cut rates by 25 basis points.

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Friday as investors evaluated a new round of corporate earnings: Dow +0.24%; S&P 500 +0.04%; Nasdaq -0.12%.