Asian markets settled mixed on Friday as a surprisingly soft US inflation data fuelled bets for a September rate cut, while former President Donald Trump leading in new 2024 election poll that showed only 24% of voters think Biden is mentally sharp. Chinese shares gained marginally after the release of mixed trade data. China's exports rose 8.6% year-on-year by value in June, while imports dropped 2.3%, customs data revealed. Hong Kong shares jumped after Chinese securities regulator announced fresh curbs on short-selling to bolster market sentiment. Meanwhile investors were awaiting next week's Third Plenum meeting. Japanese shares declined as the yen strengthened with speculation that Japanese authorities may have again intervened in forex markets to prop up the ailing currency.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,971.30 | 0.91 | 0.03 |
| Hang Seng | 18,293.38 | 461.05 | 2.52 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,327.58 | 27.17 | 0.37 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,619.06 | -4.06 | -0.25 |
| Nikkei 225 | 41,190.68 | -1,033.34 | -2.51 |
| Straits Times | 3,497.78 | 22.72 | 0.65 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,857.00 | -34.35 | -1.20 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 23,916.93 | -473.10 | -1.98 |
