XI JINPING MEETS KMT CHAIR CHENG LI-WEN - STATE MEDIA

PBOC SETS MIDPOINT FOR USD/CNY AT 6.8654, UP 5 PIPS

US stocks traded mixed midday Friday, with the Nasdaq up about 0.3%, while the Dow fell roughly 0.5% and the S&P 500 slipped 0.1%. March CPI showed inflation accelerated to 3.3% annually, with a 0.9% monthly rise, driven by surging energy prices linked to the US-Iran war. Investors are closely watching upcoming US-Iran talks, as uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and fragile ceasefire continues to weigh on market sentiment.