Asia-Pacific stocks mixed as investors parse China data, await Washington-Beijing trade talks

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The view of Nanjing Road East Pedestrian Mall, the main shopping street in Shanghai.

Bruce Yuanyue Bi | The Image Bank | Getty Images

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday as investors parsed China's exports-imports data for April, with focus also on impending trade talks between Beijing and Washington.

China's exports surged as shipments to Southeast Asian countries soared, offsetting a sharp drop in outbound goods to the U.S. as prohibitive tariffs kicked in.

Exports climbed 8.1% in U.S. dollar terms in April compared to the same month last year, official data showed, significantly outperforming the 1.9% increase forecast in a Reuters poll. Shipments to the U.S. plunged over 21%.

China stocks, however, did not get a boost from the strong data as tariff worries weigh on investor sentiment. Mainland China's CSI 300 fell 0.17% to close at 3,846.16, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.4% to close at 22,867.74.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1.56% to close at 37,503.33 and the Topix gained 1.29% to end the trading day at 2,733.49. South Korea's Kospi slid 0.09% to close at 2,577.27 and the small-cap Kosdaq slipped 0.97% to close at 722.52.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.48% to close at 8,231.2.

India's Nifty 50 fell nearly 1% as tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.

Overnight, Wall Street gained following U.S. President Donald Trump announced the broad outline of a trade deal with the United Kingdom — the first since the U.S. paused sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs in April.

U.S. stock futures hovered near the flatline as investors hope that the U.S.- United Kingdom trade deal framework signals more progress to come.

Specific details of the agreement remained unclear, and no official documents were signed during the Oval Office announcement.

"The final details are being written up," Trump said. "In the coming weeks we'll have it all very conclusive."

Meanwhile, the three major averages closed higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 254.48 points, or 0.62%, to settle at 41,368.45. The S&P 500 rose 0.58% and closed at 5,663.94. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.07% to end at 17,928.14.

— CNBC's Sean Conlon and Pia Singh contributed to this report.

Takeda Pharma less affected by tariffs, stronger yen than other Japanese drugmakers: CEO

 CEO

Japan's largest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, is relatively insulated from the impact of tariffs as the bulk of its manufacturing is based in the U.S., CEO Christophe Weber told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" Friday.

"50% of our global revenue is in the U.S. Only eight to 10% of that U.S. revenue will be subject to tariff. So, that's what is limiting our exposure," he said.

The company is also less exposed to the stronger Japanese yen compared to other pharmaceutical firms in the country as its cost base matches its revenue, he added.

With the bulk of Takeda's research and development also based in the U.S., the group has planned to invest $30 billion in the country over the next five years.

This investment is "not a new trend" or "a reaction to what's going on," he said.

"It's just acknowledging that U.S. is so important for [an] innovation-driven company like Takeda."

- Diane Jorolan, Neha Hegde

Chinese chipmaker SMIC shares fall after earnings miss

Shares of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, China's largest contract chip maker, fell around 6% Friday after its first-quarter earnings missed estimates.

After trading on Thursday, the company reported a first-quarter revenue of $2.24 billion, up about 28% from a year earlier. Meanwhile, profit attributable to shareholders surged 162% year on year to $188 million.

However, both figures missed LSEG mean estimates of $2.34 billion in revenue and $225.1 million in net income, as well as the company's own forecasts.

Read the full story here.

—Dylan Butts

Stagflation shock leaves the Fed 'torn' between the two parts of its dual mandate: Apollo Global Management

 Apollo Global Management

The new tariffs have left the U.S. Fed "stuck in a very difficult spot", with both inflation and unemployment expected to go up, Torsten Slok, partner and chief economist at Apollo Global Management told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" Thursday.

"Normally, you would expect that if inflation goes up, then the unemployment rate should be going down," he said.

"But that's not what we're seeing at the moment, because this is a stagflation shock, where the trade war has simply hit the US economy in a way where goods are going to become more expensive in the US, and at the same time, sales in the US is going to get weaker," he added.

With the ongoing trade policy, the U.S. might be on track to face a voluntary trade reset recession, with the "adjustments that are required for the U.S. economy is going to be so substantial that it will result in a recession," Slock said.

- Diane Jorolan, Neha Hegde

China’s April exports jump 8.1% to beat estimates despite U.S. tariffs; import decline slows

China's exports surged in April even as businesses bore the brunt of U.S. tariffs that kicked into higher gear last month, while imports narrowed declines as Beijing stepped up stimulus.

Exports jumped 8.1% last month in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, according to data released by customs authority Friday, sharply beating with Reuters' poll estimates of a 1.9% rise.

Imports slumped by 0.2% in April from a year earlier, compared with the economists' expectations of a 5.9% drop.

Read the full story here.

—Anniek Bao

China sets yuan midpoint rate at weakest level since April 24

China's PBOC set the midpoint rate 7.2095 against the dollar, the weakest level since April 24, according to Reuters. The onshore yuan is only allowed to trade within a narrow band of 2% above or below this reference rate.

The decision comes on the heels of sweeping policy steps announced by China's central bank and financial regulators Wednesday as Beijing ramps up efforts to bolster growth amid mounting trade worries.

China's offshore yuan weakened marginally to 7.2460 against the greenback, while the onshore yuan is at 7.2458 against the dollar as of 9.40 a.m. local time.

—Lee Ying Shan

Japan household spending exceeds expectations in March

Japan's average household spending in March beat expectations, rising 2.1% in real terms year on year, according to government data released Friday.

This beats the forecast of a 0.2% climb from economists, and could afford the Bank of Japan more room to raise interest rates and normalize its monetary policy.

Household spending reached 339,232 yen ($2,325.71) in March, while the average monthly household income for March fell 2% year on year in real terms to 524,343 yen.

— Lim Hui Jie

Major U.S. indexes close in the green on Thursday

The broad market index added 0.58% to close at 5,663.94, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.07% to end at 17,928.14. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 254.48 points, or 0.62%, and settled at 41,368.45. 

— Pia Singh

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