Global markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street ended the previous session with a decline, while Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba saw its shares jump sharply on strong earnings.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In Asia, major indexes moved in different directions. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 2.4% as Alibaba stock soared more than 6% following quarterly results that beat analyst expectations. The company reported stronger revenue in its cloud and retail divisions, boosting investor confidence.

Japan’s Nikkei 225, however, slipped 0.8% as technology and export-oriented stocks came under pressure from a stronger yen. South Korea’s Kospi edged lower by 0.5%, weighed down by losses in chipmakers.

In Europe, trading opened cautiously. London’s FTSE 100 was nearly flat, while Germany’s DAX posted a modest 0.3% gain. France’s CAC 40 was little changed. Investors were watching for signals from central banks and fresh economic data, including inflation reports expected later in the week.

The mixed performance followed a weak session on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 dropped 0.7% on Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.8%. The pullback came after several days of gains driven by optimism over potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

Investors in the United States grew cautious as bond yields rose and uncertainty increased over when the Fed might move to ease borrowing costs. Analysts say markets are still sensitive to inflation trends, which could influence the central bank’s timing.

“After a strong rally, markets are pausing to reassess,” said Hao Wu, a market strategist at an investment firm in Singapore. “Alibaba’s performance shows some bright spots, but the overall global picture remains cloudy.”

Alibaba’s gains gave a boost to Chinese equities, which have been under pressure this year due to weak consumer spending and concerns about slowing growth. The company’s earnings showed resilience in key business lines, giving some investors reason to hope that China’s tech sector could stabilize.

Still, broader market sentiment remained cautious. Concerns linger over global growth, high interest rates in the United States, and geopolitical tensions in several regions.

Oil prices slipped slightly in early trading, with benchmark U.S. crude at $78.60 per barrel and Brent crude at $82.10. Energy traders said worries about demand were outweighing supply concerns.

Currency markets also reflected investor caution. The U.S. dollar weakened against the Japanese yen, trading near 147.8, while the euro held steady around $1.07.

Analysts say the coming days will be key for direction. U.S. inflation data is due next week, and central bank meetings in Europe and Asia could also shape expectations.

“Investors are looking for clarity,” said Sarah Lin, chief economist at a London research group. “Right now, there is no single story driving markets. It’s a push and pull between earnings optimism, rate expectations, and growth concerns.”

For now, markets remain divided. Alibaba’s strong earnings provided a lift in Asia, but Wall Street’s decline and global economic worries kept gains in check.

The focus will now shift to whether upcoming data confirms a cooling of inflation in the U.S. and Europe. A clearer picture could set the tone for the final quarter of the year.