In Asian Equity Markets indices declines on Friday afternoon, as investors waited for developments from the ongoing U.S-China trade negotiations in Beijing. The Shanghai composite fell 0.62 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 1.64 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 1.23 percent. Shares of Japanese conglomerate Softbank Group fell more than 2.7 percent. South Korea’s Kospi shed 1.49 percent as shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics and chipmaker SK Hynix both fell more than 3 percent each.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar edged lower versus the yen on Friday as dismal U.S. retail sales data reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will not raise rates this year, while the market awaited developments in trade talks between Washington and Beijing. The dollar lost about 0.5 percent against the safe-haven yen in the overnight session and was down 0.2 percent to 110.26 in Asian trade. The yen rose 0.24 percent versus the euro to 124.48, having gained around 0.2 percent on Thursday.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rallied on Friday, with Brent crude futures hitting fresh 2019 highs amid U.S. sanctions against Venezuela and Iran and supply cuts led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Brent pushed above $65 per barrel for the first time in 2019, before edging back to $64.91 a barrel. That was still 0.5 percent above the last close. The international benchmark for oil prices is at a near 3-month high and set for a 4.5 percent gain for the week. U.S. WTI crude futures were at $54.74 per barrel, up 33 cents, or 0.6 percent, from their last settlement.

In US Equity Markets stocks recovered from declines triggered by bleak retail data to trade flat on Thursday, as investors focused on signs of progress in the ongoing U.S.-China trade talks. Cisco Systems Inc rose 3.1 percent, after the network gear maker’s earnings beat estimates, driven by strength in its newer applications and security businesses. The S&P 500 was down 0.24 percent, at 2,745.05 and the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.29 percent, at 7,442.26. Marathon Oil Corp jumped 8.3 percent, the most among S&P companies, after the oil producer beat estimates for fourth-quarter profit.

In Bond Markets Treasury yields fell on Thursday after data showed that U.S. retail sales recorded their biggest drop in more than nine years in December, suggesting a slowdown in economic activity at the end of 2018. The Commerce Department said retail sales fell 1.2 percent, the largest decline since September 2009, when the economy was emerging from recession. U.S. 10-year notes gained 13/32 in price to yield 2.661 percent, down from 2.706 percent on Wednesday. They are down from 3.261 percent in October.