Investors were in upbeat mood as plans for huge tech investments in Japan were unveiled and China traders snapped up AI stocks

China investors remained in downbeat mood over data signalling a wobbly recovery while Japan’s exporters were lifted by a stronger US dollar

Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei also hit its highest close in 18 months with investors drawn in by Japan’s strong economic outlook

Investors continue to be distracted by persistent inflation, rate hike threats, a possible banking crisis and a gloomy outlook for the world’s top two economies

Investors were distracted by factory gate deflation in China while hopes of rate hikes easing in the US were clouded by its debt ceiling standoff

The release of critical US inflation figures later in the day preoccupied traders with worries of more resultant rate hikes dampening the mood

Investors remained in cautious mood as worries over the US banking sector and more interest rate rises continue to cast a shadow

The region’s stock indexes returned mixed results at the end of the week with worries over the US banking sector capping gains and paring losses

Investors from abroad purchased a net $872 million of stocks in April in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

China’s financials led a post-May Day holiday rally as tourism rebounded but worries over US banks’ struggles cast a shadow

Japan’s Nikkei and China’s mainland markets were closed while Hong Kong saw the end of a four-day winning run

First Republic Bank’s asset sale to JPMorgan Chase calmed some jitters but many are wondering which bank will buckle next