BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets have followed Wall Street higher after U.S. regulators removed some limits on the ability of banks to make investments. Benchmarks in Tokyo, Sydney and Southeast Asia advanced on Friday while Hong Kong declined. Chinese markets were closed for a holiday. Investors were encouraged by the U.S. decision to expand the ability of banks to pursue a wider variety of investments to help shore up slim profits amid low interest rates. Meanwhile, the United States reported its economy shrank by 5% in the latest quarter, and forecasters expect worse in the present period.
Posted
and last updated
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
,
Weather
Wednesday
02/11/2026
Partly Cloudy
68° / 43°
6%
Thursday
02/12/2026
Sunny
63° / 42°
7%
Friday
02/13/2026
Partly Cloudy
63° / 43°
6%
Saturday
02/14/2026
Partly Cloudy
69° / 47°
4%
Sunday
02/15/2026
AM Clouds/PM Sun
67° / 49°
4%
Monday
02/16/2026
Rain
59° / 46°
72%
Tuesday
02/17/2026
Showers
57° / 40°
59%
Wednesday
02/18/2026
Partly Cloudy
53° / 40°
24%