Asian markets ended mostly down on Thursday due to lingering uncertainty over possible interest rate cuts in the United States, and fighting and bombardment continued on the outskirts of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Meanwhile, investors were cautiously awaiting the release of key US CPI data next week. Japanese shares declined, while the yen stabilized after three days of declines as Japan talked up potential currency interventions. Japan's real wages in March fell for the 24th consecutive month, the labour ministry reported. However, Chinese and Hong Kong shares advanced on the back of strong trade data. Exports advanced 1.5% on a yearly basis in April, faster than the 1% expected growth and reversing March's 7.5% decrease, while imports posted an annual increase of 8.4% that also bigger than forecast of 5.4%. Stock market of Indonesia was closed for Ascension Day.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,154.32 | 25.84 | 0.82 |
| Hang Seng | 18,537.81 | 223.95 | 1.21 |
| Jakarta Composite | -- | -- | -- |
| KLSE Composite | 1,601.22 | -3.53 | -0.22 |
| Nikkei 225 | 38,073.98 | -128.39 | -0.34 |
| Straits Times | 3,265.95 | 1.42 | 0.04 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,712.14 | -32.91 | -1.21 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 20,560.77 | -139.74 | -0.68 |
