- Chinese shares dragged down an Asian equity index, as did declines in Hong Kong-listed technology stocks. US futures gained on anticipation that politicians in Washington will avoid the country's first default.
- Shares in Australia, South Korea, and Japan rose, with the Topix index on track for its best week since November and a new 33-yr high.
- Alibaba was one of the largest losers in Hong Kong after sales fell short of expectations, adding to signals that China's post-Covid recovery is weakening. The yuan fell even further, taking it to levels not seen since late last year.
- Futures for the S&P 500 rose after the index reached its highest level in nine months on Thursday. The Nasdaq 100 futures also jumped as the tech-heavy index rose over 2% in a rise that pulled the Cboe Volatility Index, Wall Street's fear barometer, lower.
- Bond yields in Australia and New Zealand increased, while Treasuries held steady, following a Thursday selloff that pushed rates higher on anticipation that the Federal Reserve will need to maintain borrowing costs higher for longer as inflation remains strong. The dollar index was little altered after rising the most in two months the previous day.
