This is C온라인카지노사이트's live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets.

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday as investors parsed China's April trade data.

China's exports surged in April even as businesses bore the brunt of U.S. tariffs that kicked into higher gear last month, while imports narrowed declines as Beijing stepped up stimulus.

Exports climbed 8.1% in U.S. dollar terms in April compared to the same month last year, official data showed, significantly outperforming the 1.9% increase forecast in a Reuters poll.

Hong Kong's slipped 0.15%, while mainland China's CSI 300 slipped 0.22%.

Uncertainty on Washington and Beijing reaching a deal in their scheduled trade talks in Switzerland is also dampening optimism.

Japan's benchmark rose 1.42and the Topix gained 1.06%. South Korea's added 0.3% and the small-cap Kosdaq slipped 0.59%.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded flat.

India's slipped 0.74% at the open.

Overnight, Wall Street gained following U.S. President Donald Trump with the United Kingdom — the first since the U.S. paused sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs in April.

U.S. stock futures hovered near the flatline as investors hope that the U.S.- United Kingdom trade deal framework signals more progress to come.

Specific details of the agreement remained unclear, and no official documents were signed during the Oval Office announcement.

"The final details are being written up," Trump said. "In the coming weeks we'll have it all very conclusive."

Meanwhile, . The  gained 254.48 points, or 0.62%, to settle at 41,368.45. The  rose 0.58% and closed at 5,663.94. The  advanced 1.07% to end at 17,928.14.

— C온라인카지노사이트's Sean Conlon and Pia Singh contributed to this report.

Stagflation shock leaves the Fed 'torn' between the two parts of its dual mandate: Apollo Global Management

The new tariffs have left the U.S. Fed "stuck in a very difficult spot", with both inflation and unemployment expected to go up, Torsten Slok, partner and chief economist at Apollo Global Management told C온라인카지노사이트's "" Thursday.

"Normally, you would expect that if inflation goes up, then the unemployment rate should be going down," he said.

"But that's not what we're seeing at the moment, because this is a stagflation shock, where the trade war has simply hit the US economy in a way where goods are going to become more expensive in the US, and at the same time, sales in the US is going to get weaker," he added.

With the ongoing trade policy, the U.S. might be on track to face a voluntary trade reset recession, with the "adjustments that are required for the U.S. economy is going to be so substantial that it will result in a recession," Slock said.

- Diane Jorolan, Neha Hegde

China’s April exports jump 8.1% to beat estimates despite U.S. tariffs; import decline slows

China's exports surged in April even as businesses bore the brunt of U.S. tariffs that kicked into higher gear last month, while imports narrowed declines as Beijing stepped up stimulus.

Exports jumped 8.1% last month in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, according to data released by customs authority Friday, sharply beating with Reuters' poll estimates of a 1.9% rise.

Imports slumped by 0.2% in April from a year earlier, compared with the economists' expectations of a 5.9% drop.

Read the full story .

—Anniek Bao

China sets yuan midpoint rate at weakest level since April 24

China's PBOC set the midpoint rate 7.2095 against the dollar, the weakest level since April 24, according to Reuters. The onshore yuan is only allowed to trade within a narrow band of 2% above or below this reference rate.

The decision comes on the heels of announced by China's central bank and financial regulators Wednesday as Beijing ramps up efforts to bolster growth amid mounting trade worries.

China's offshore yuan weakened marginally to 7.2460 against the greenback, while the onshore yuan is at 7.2458 against the dollar as of 9.40 a.m. local time.

—Lee Ying Shan

Japan household spending exceeds expectations in March

Japan's average household spending in March beat expectations, rising 2.1% in real terms year on year, according to .

This beats the forecast of a 0.2% climb from economists, and could afford the Bank of Japan more room to raise interest rates and normalize its monetary policy.

Household spending reached 339,232 yen ($2,325.71) in March, while the average monthly household income for March fell 2% year on year in real terms to 524,343 yen.

— Lim Hui Jie

Major U.S. indexes close in the green on Thursday

The broad market index added 0.58% to close at 5,663.94, while the  gained 1.07% to end at 17,928.14. The  climbed 254.48 points, or 0.62%, and settled at 41,368.45. 

— Pia Singh