- Asian stocks received a boost on Friday from a rally in a Hong Kong index of technology firms, which followed a surge in Chinese equities listed in the US.
- US futures fell after Wall Street fell from a high in thin year-end trading.
- The Hang Seng Tech Index increased by about 4%, and China saw gains. Those moves followed the Nasdaq golden dragon china index's biggest one-day gain since 2008 on Thursday, though it remains down more than 40% for 2021.
- According to the most recent data, China's manufacturing sector expanded in December, providing some relief to Beijing as the world's second-largest economy struggles with a property market slump.
- Hong Kong's stock exchange closes early, and Japan is among a number of countries that close before the new year.
- Treasury futures were unchanged after yields fell in US hours. Due to the Japan holiday, there is no cash treasury trading in Asia. The dollar fluctuated, and crude oil fell. Bitcoin maintained its December losses.
