From Barchart: 2024-04-25 22:27:49

Most Asian stocks rose on Friday, driven by strong earnings from tech giants Microsoft and Alphabet. Japanese stocks also inched up ahead of the Bank of Japan meeting. U.S. stock futures surged, boosting regional markets. Gains in tech stocks overshadowed weak U.S. data and inflation concerns.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up as investors awaited the BOJ meeting outcome. Tokyo inflation data fell below the 2% target, limiting the central bank’s ability to raise rates. Uncertainty looms over potential hawkish signals.

Asian tech stocks led the market rally following upbeat U.S. earnings. South Korea and Hong Kong indexes surged, with the Hang Seng hitting a five-month high. Strong AI demand supported tech valuations. Indian futures pointed to a positive open, while Australian stocks lagged due to inflation concerns.



Read more at Barchart: Asian stocks rise as tech tracks bumper US earnings; BOJ in focus By Investing.com