- Japan will release June inflation data for the capital, Tokyo, which is widely seen as a leading indicator of national trends.
- The yen remains above 160 yen to the dollar after hitting a 38-year low against the dollar on Thursday.
Asia-Pacific markets are expected to open mixed on Friday as investors await key economic data from Japan and US inflation figures for clues on the direction of monetary policy in both countries.
The Japanese yen remains above 160 yen to the dollar, most recently at 160.72 yen, after hitting a 38-year low against the dollar on Thursday.
Japan will release June inflation data for the capital, Tokyo, which is widely seen as a leading indicator of national trends.
The country is also due to release unemployment and industrial production data for May.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 futures signaled a market rebound, with Chicago futures at 39,620 and Osaka futures at 39,580, up from the previous day’s close of 39,341.54.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 futures were at 7,775, rebounding from the previous close of 7,759.6.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Hang Seng Index futures were at 17,524, below the HSI’s last close of 17,716.47 after the index hit its lowest in nearly two months on Thursday.
Overnight in the US, the S&P 500 was only slightly higher as Wall Street closely watched new inflation data to gauge when the Federal Reserve might start cutting interest rates.
The United States is expected to release its key inflation gauge, personal consumption expenditures, on Friday.
The Composite Index closed up 0.09%, the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.30% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.09%.
—CNBC’s Hakyung Kim and Sarah Min contributed to this report.
