06:41 AM EDT, 04/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets tracked higher Friday on Beijing-Washington trade outlook and on possible easing at the US central bank.

Hong Kong and Tokyo finished in the green, although Shanghai edged lower. Other regional exchanges were mixed on the high side, while Sydney was closed on holiday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher on Wall Street cues and rose to he close, finishing up 1.9% as traders pinned hopes on better trade terms between Tokyo and Washington.

A softer yen against the US dollar aided export issues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 666.59 to 35,705.74, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 184 to 88.

Leading the upside was electric motor maker Nidec, up 12.5%, while Hino Motors fell 5%.

In economic news, the Tokyo consumer price index-core (CPI-core), that excukdes fresh foods, rose 3.4% on-year in April, up from the 2.4% on-year in March, the Statistics Bureau reported.

Japan's services producer price index (PPI) for March rose 3.1% on year, reported the Bank of Japan.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher, wobbled, but finished up 0.3% after two US Federal Reserve officials on Thursday hinted at rate cuts, if White House tariff plans undercut the US economy by too large a margin.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 70.98 to 21,980.74, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 52 to 29. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 0.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 0.4%.

Leading the upside was internet-giant Baidu, gaining 3.8%, while Chow Tai Fook Jewelry declined 4.2%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.1% to 3,295.06.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 1%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 2%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.2%, and the Thai Set inclined 1.1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.7%.

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