Asian stocks also fluctuated in opposite directions.

Stock markets in Japan, South Korea and China traded mixed on Friday morning (April 18), reflecting investors' cautious sentiment amid lack of clarity on tariff negotiations.

Nikkei 225 Index Development

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index rose 0.8%. Analysts said the move was partly due to Mr. Trump’s statement that US-Japan trade talks had made “great progress.”

Inflation in Japan also eased, rising at an annual rate of 3.6% in March, down from 3.7% in February. However, inflation has been above the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) 2% target for the past three years. Not to mention, so-called core inflation (excluding fresh food and energy prices), which is closely monitored by the BOJ, rose to 2.9% from 2.6% in the previous month.

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said on Friday that the central bank would continue to raise interest rates if core inflation accelerates to its 2% target, as expected. But he also told parliament that the BOJ would consider “without preconceived notions” whether the economy would develop in line with its forecasts because the impact of U.S. tariffs remains uncertain.

South Korean markets also edged up, with the Kospi index up 0.46%.

South Korean and Japanese shipping stocks rose after the Trump administration imposed fees on ships built in China on Thursday. Japan’s Nippon Yusen and Kawasaki Kisen rose 2.63% and 4.17%, respectively; Mitsui OSK Lines rose 2.95%. South Korea’s Pan Ocean and Hmm also rose about 1.98% and 0.83%, respectively.

However, China's Shanghai Composite index fell 0.39%, but Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 1.61%.

Markets in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore are closed for holidays.

Some Asian stock indices

In the US, the three major US stock indexes closed mixed. Specifically, the S&P 500 rose slightly by 0.13% to close at 5,282.70 points. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite fell slightly by 0.13% to close at 16,286.45; the Dow Jones fell by 527.16 points, or 1.33%, to 39,142.23.

Source: https://thoibaonganhang.vn/chung-khoan-chau-a-cung-bien-dong-trai-chieu-163001.html