Investing.com - Asian markets were mixed in morning trade on Friday. Chinese stocks rose following reports that Beijing’s top diplomat said the country is willing to purchase more U.S.-made goods.
Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, said in response to questions from Reuters that trade discussions could yield results if both China and the U.S. "take more enthusiastic measures" to show goodwill and reduce "pessimistic language" in their trade dispute.
He said Washington has shown goodwill by easing tariffs on a range of Chinese products.
"And so, (on) the Chinese side, we are willing to buy more products that are needed by the Chinese market," Wang said.
"We hope both sides can take more enthusiastic measures, reduce pessimistic language and actions. If everyone does this, talks will not only resume, but will proceed and yield results."
China’s Shanghai Composite and the Shenzhen Component gained 0.1% and 0.5% respectively by 10:50 PM ET (02:50 GMT).
Officials from both sides will resume talks in October in Washington.
On the data front, the National Bureau of Statistics reported on Friday that China’s industrial profits were down 2% in August from a year earlier. That compared with a 2.6% gain in July.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.3%. Data showed that the Tokyo’s core consumer prices grew 0.5% in September from a year earlier, slowing from a 0.7% rise in August.
Toyota Motor Corp (T:7203) made headlines after the Nikkei newspaper reported today that the company is planning to increase its shares in Subaru Corp (T:7270) to more than 20% from the current 17%.
The investment could cost more than 70 billion yen ($650 million), the newspaper said without citing sources.
South Korea’s KOSPI was down 1.0%.
Down under, Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.4%.