The Hong Kong stock market on Thursday snapped the two-day winning streak in which it had gathered more than 520 points or 2.2 percent. The Hang Seng Index now sits just above the 23,980-point plateau and it's called to open higher on Friday.

The Australian stock market is advancing on Friday after two days of losses following the positive cues overnight from Wall Street on upbeat corporate earnings results amid continued optimism about easing COVID-19 restrictions.

Ahead of Thursday's holiday for Vesak Day, the Indonesia stock market had finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the four-day winning streak in which it had advanced more than 220 points or 4.9 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index now sits just beneath the 4,610-point plateau and it's likely to remain rangebound again on Friday.

The Japanese stock market is rising on Friday following the overnight gains on Wall Street on upbeat corporate earnings results and continued optimism about easing COVID-19 restrictions. Investors shrugged off data that showed Japan's services sector continued to contract in April.

Asian stock markets are higher on Friday following the positive cues overnight from Wall Street on upbeat corporate earnings results and continued optimism about easing COVID-19 restrictions. A continued decrease in the number of new jobless claims in the U.S. also boosted sentiment. Investors now look ahead to the release of the U.S. jobs data for April later today.

The China stock market had climbed higher in three straight sessions, collecting almost 70 points or 2.5 percent in that span. The Shanghai Composite Index now rests just beneath the 2,880-point plateau although investors may cash in on Thursday.

The Hong Kong stock market has moved higher in back-to-back sessions, advancing more than 520 points or 2.2 percent along the way. The Hang Seng Index now sits just beneath the 24,140-point plateau although it may run out of steam on Thursday.

The Australian stock market is modestly lower on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session following the mixed cues overnight from Wall Street and the fall in commodity prices. Data showing that Australia's services sector continued to struggle in April due to pandemic-related closures and restricted activity also dampened sentiment.

Ahead of Wednesday's holiday for Wisakha Bucha Day, the Thai stock market had snapped the four-day winning streak in which it had accelerated almost 45 points or 3.4 percent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand now rests just beneath the 1,280-point plateau and it may extend its losses on Thursday.

The Japanese stock market, which resumed trading on Thursday after a three-day holiday, is modestly lower following the lackluster cues overnight from Wall Street after a report showed that U.S. private sector employment nosedived in the month of April. The safe-haven yen also strengthened, dragging exporters' stocks lower.

Asian stock markets are mostly lower on Thursday after a fall in commodity prices overnight and as investors digested dismal economic data that reflected the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Data showing that U.S. private sector employment nosedived last month and China's service sector also continued to contract in April dampened investor sentiment.

The South Korea stock market has finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the three-day winning streak in which it had collected almost 60 points or 3.1 percent. The KOSPI remains just beneath the 1,930-point plateau although it may bounce higher again on Friday.

Ahead of Thursday's holiday for Vesak Day, the Malaysia stock market had finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the four-day winning streak in which it had climbed almost 40 points or 3 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now rests just above the 1,375-point plateau although it may see renewed support on Friday.

Ahead of Thursday's holiday for Vesak Day, the Singapore stock market had moved higher in two straight sessions, collecting almost 30 points or 1.2 percent along the way. The Straits Times Index now rests just above the 2,590-point plateau and it may add to its winnings on Friday.

The South Korea stock market bounced higher again on Wednesday, one session after it had ended the three-day winning streak in which it had collected almost 60 points or 3.1 percent. The KOSPI now rests just beneath the 1,930-point plateau and it may inch higher again on Thursday.

Foreign trade data from Germany is due on Friday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's external trade figures for March. Exports are forecast to fall 5 percent on month, in contrast to an increase of 1.3 percent in February. Imports are expected to drop 4 percent.

Malaysia's unemployment rate rose in March, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Friday.

German exports declined the most on record in March as foreign demand was dampened by coronavirus, or Covid-19, pandemic, official data showed Friday.

The National Retail Federation's Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz believes the economic recovery in the United States from the Coronavirus crisis would come gradually and may vary by location depending on the severity. His remark comes as more and more stores are reopening across the country after at least 30 U.S. states began easing lockdown restrictions and decided to reopen businesses...

German exports declined at a record pace in March as widespread lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, or Covid-19, across major economies hurt the demand, official data showed Friday. Exports fell by seasonally adjusted 11.8 percent month-on-month, in contrast to February's 1.2 percent rise, Destatis reported. This was the strongest decline since the beginning of the time series in August

Portugal's foreign trade narrowed in March from a year ago amid declines in both exports and imports, figures from Statistics Portugal showed on Friday.

Lithuania trade deficit decreased in March, as exports and imports declined, figures from the statistical office showed on Friday.

Finland's trade deficit widened in March with exports falling more than imports, preliminary figures from the Finnish Customs showed on Friday.

Most of the German companies expect decline in sales in the whole year of 2020 as coronavirus related crisis is expected to last longer, a survey from the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or DIHK, showed Friday.

A report released by the Commerce Department on Friday showed wholesale inventories in the U.S. decreased by slightly less than expected in the month of March. The Commerce Department said wholesale inventories slumped by 0.8 percent in March after falling by 0.7 percent in February. Economists had expected inventories to tumble by 1.0 percent.

European Central Bank Vice-President Luis de Guindos and Governing Council member Gabriel Makhlouf said separately on Thursday that the central bank was more determined to support the euro area economy during crisis periods and the bank stands ready to adjust all tools at its disposal, just days after the top German court ruled that the bank's government debt purchases were in violation of its mandate.

Reflecting a steep drop in revolving credit, the Federal Reserve released a report on Thursday showing an unexpected decrease in U.S. consumer credit in the month of March.