Asia stocks rise as investors digest regional data

May 23, 2025 (MLN): Asia-Pacific markets mostly climbed on Friday as investors digested a range of economic data from across the region.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1.04%, while the Topix index climbed 0.89%.

In South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.36%, although the small-cap Kosdaq edged down 0.34%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 increased 0.33%.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index and mainland China’s CSI 300 traded flat at the open, as CNBC reported.

On the geopolitical front, the U.S. and China agreed to maintain communication following a call between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and U.S. Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau, according to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry released Friday.

In economic data, Japan’s core inflation accelerated to 3.5% in April, driven in part by a surge in rice prices.

The figures come as the Bank of Japan considers pausing its rate-hike stance to assess the effects of U.S. tariffs.

Investors are also evaluating South Korea’s producer price index (PPI) data for April and New Zealand’s retail sales figures for the first quarter.

Additional data due later includes Singapore’s April inflation report and Taiwan’s industrial output.

In the U.S., stock futures were largely flat. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 14 points or 0.03%, S&P 500 futures ticked up 0.03%, and Nasdaq 100 futures were slightly lower.

Overnight on Wall Street, the major averages ended mixed amid concerns over rising interest rates and a growing U.S. deficit.

The 30-year Treasury yield reached its highest level since 2023 after lawmakers passed a bill that investors fear could worsen the deficit.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.35 points to close at 41,859.09. The S&P 500 fell 0.04% to end at 5,842.01, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.28% to settle at 18,925.73.

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