News
The yield on Japan's 20-year government bonds rose 6 basis points to 3.77%.
Japan's preliminary composite PMI for August was 53.4, compared to 52.7 in the previous month.
Japan's preliminary manufacturing PMI for August was 55.1, compared to 54.5 in the previous month.
Japan's preliminary services PMI for August was 52.3, down from 51.2 in the previous month.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index opened down 11.80 points, or 0.13%, at 9072.00 on Friday, August 21.
The NI225 opened down 639.56 points, or 0.97%, at 65,577.23 on Friday, August 21.
Japan's nationwide unadjusted CPI rose 0.4% month-on-month in July, compared with 0% in the previous month.
Japan's core CPI rose 1.8% year-on-year in July, below the expected 1.80% and the previous reading of 1.60%.
Japan's national CPI rose 2% year-on-year in July, below the expected 1.90% and the previous reading of 1.60%.
Japan's core CPI annual rate for July will be released in ten minutes.
The UK's GFK Consumer Confidence Key Purchasing Index rose to its highest level since December 2021.
The UK's GfK consumer confidence index for August was -14, the highest level since August 2024.
The UK's GfK consumer confidence index for August was -14, compared to a forecast of -18 and a previous reading of -17.
Australia's preliminary S&P Global Manufacturing PMI for August was 52, unchanged from the previous month.
Australia's preliminary S&P Global Services PMI for August was 52.9, compared to 53.6 in the previous month.
Australia's preliminary S&P Global Composite PMI for August was 52.5, compared to 53.2 in the previous month.
UK August Gfk Consumer Confidence Index is due in ten minutes.
New Zealand's 12-month trade balance for July was -NZ$5.24 billion, revised from -NZ$3.746 billion to -NZ$4.05 billion in the previous month.
New Zealand's exports in July totaled NZ$7.39 billion, revised from NZ$8.09 billion to NZ$7.83 billion in the previous month.
New Zealand's imports in July totaled NZ$9.34 billion, compared to NZ$8.07 billion in the previous month.