Asian stocks push higher on easing Fed fears, China GDP in focus

Most Asian stocks rose further on Friday, capping off a positive week on signs of cooling U.S. inflation, with focus now turning to upcoming data offering more cues on the Chinese economy. Gains in Chinese stocks were limited as investors awaited key second-quarter gross domestic product data from the country, due next week. Comments from central bank officials on more stimulus measures offered little support to markets. Regional stocks took positive cues from an overnight rally on Wall Street, as producer price index data further showed that inflation in the world’s largest economy was cooling. This in turn spurred bets that the Federal Reserve was close to reaching peak interest rates in its current cycle, sparking strong gains in technology stocks. The trend spilled over into Asian trade, with tech-heavy bourses logging the strongest gains. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.6%, while the Taiwan Weighted index and South Korea’s KOSPI surged 1% and 1.2%, respectively.