AT CLOSE, SHANGHAI COMPOSITE INDEX UP 0.51%, SHENZHEN COMPONENT INDEX UP 2.24%, CSI 300 INDEX UP 1.54%, CHINEXT INDEX UP 3.78%

U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS: MARCH NON-SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ENERGY INFLATION RISES 10.9% MOM AND 12.5% YOY

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.