Asia markets poised for mixed open ahead of Japan’s trade balance; Hong Kong may pause trade

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Japan ,Tokyo City skyline, Tokyo Tower. (Photo by: Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Prisma By Dukas | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Asia-Pacific markets are set for a mixed open as Japan releases its trade balance for July, as well as its revised second quarter gross domestic product figures.

Hong Kong markets may see limited trading today after the city’s observatory issued a “black rainstorm” warning.

Under Hong Kong Exchange guidelines, the pre-opening session will be cancelled if a black rainstorm warning is in force after 7 a.m Hong Kong time. Should it be lifted before 9 a.m., the morning session will begin on the first half hour at least two hours after the discontinuation of the signal.

Should the signal still be in force after 9 a.m., the morning session will be cancelled, and if it extends beyond 12 p.m., there will no trading for the day.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is set to extend losses from Wednesday, with the futures contract in Chicago at 32,740 and its counterpart in Osaka at 32,680 against the index’s last close of 32,991.08.

In Australia, futures for the S&P/ASX 200 also point to a lower open, at 7,168 compared to the last close of 7,171.

Overnight in the U.S., the Nasdaq Composite fell for a fourth session Thursday as concerns resurfaced over the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy path, and whether policymakers will enact another hike this year.

The tech-heavy index sold off 0.89%, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.32%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.17%.

— CNBC’s Samantha Subin and Brain Evans contributed to this report

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