The futures prices of precious metals plunged during Friday trading, with COMEX April gold futures once dropping over 10 percent to as low as 4,700.4 U.S. dollars per ounce and March silver futures once down more than 30 percent to as low as 74 dollars per ounce.

U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday as investors evaluated U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination of former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as the next Fed chair.

Sugar futures closed higher Friday in daytime trading on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange (ZCE).The most active sugar contract for May 2026 delivery gained 17 yuan (2.44 U.S. dollars) to close at 5,248 yuan per tonne.

Cotton futures closed lower Friday in daytime trading on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange (ZCE).The most active cotton contract for May 2026 delivery lost 230 yuan (about 33.01 U.S. dollars) to close at 14,670 yuan per tonne.

Iron ore futures closed higher on Friday in daytime trading at the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE).

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, closed 0.08 percent higher at 1,832.56 points on Friday.The STAR 50 Index, which tracks the 50 largest stocks listed on the board that also meet certain liquidity requirements, closed 0.12

Chinese stocks closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.96 percent to 4,117.95 points.The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.66 percent lower at 14,205.89 points.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 1.27 percent to close at 3,346.36 points Friday.The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, opened 0.39 percent lower at 1,823.88 points on Friday. The STAR 50 Index, which tracks the 50 largest stocks listed on the board that also meet certain liquidity requirements, opened 0.41

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, was down 0.09 percent to open at 3,301.54 points Friday.The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Chinese stocks opened lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.63 percent to open at 4,131.99 points. The Shenzhen Component Index opened 0.6 percent lower at 14,214.14 points.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 93 pips to 6.9678 against the U.S. dollar Friday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 182.11 points or 0.65 percent to open at 27,785.98 points on Friday.

Hong Kong's stock market ended higher on Thursday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 0.51 percent to close at 27,968.09 points.

Tokyo stocks ended slightly higher Thursday, as exporter shares climbed on a weaker yen against the U.S. dollar, while the benchmark gold price topped 30,000 yen (196 U.S. dollars) per gram for the first time.

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, closed 2.63 percent lower at 1,831.1 points on Thursday.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, lost 0.57 percent to close at 3,304.51 points Thursday. The ChiNext Index, together with the Shenzhen Component Index and other indices, reflects the performance of stocks listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Chinese stocks closed mixed on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.16 percent to 4,157.98 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.3 percent lower at 14,300.08 points.

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, opened 0.34 percent lower at 1,874.22 points on Thursday.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, was down 0.03 percent to open at 3,322.48 points Thursday.