Global FX DATA:

• • • ASIAN MARKET
      
       Asian markets zig-zagged between mild gains and losses in early morning trade Friday, with Investors weighing the impact of relatively strong data out of China and Japan against renewed fears of a trade war out of the U.S. and the inclusion of Chinese stocks in the MSCI emerging markets index.
       
    • GOLD
      
       Gold prices were mixed Friday morning in Asia, with gold, silver and copper trading lower while platinum making gains.
       
  • • OIL
      
      Oil prices continued to dip slightly in morning trade in Asia Friday, after a reported rise in inventories in the U.S. and while investors worked to understand the implications of a divergence in the price of London-traded Brent crude and U.S.-traded WTI, the two major oil-price benchmarks.
       
    • INDIA
      
      The Indian economy grew 7.7 percent year-on-year in January-March, its quickest pace in nearly two years driven by higher growth in manufacturing, the farm sector and construction.
       
    • DOLLAR
      
      The dollar oscillated around the 94 value in Friday morning trade in Asia while gaining slightly against major Asian currencies. Japan and China released their manufacturing data, and the U.S. reignited likelihood of a global trade war.
       
    • CRYPTO CURRENCY
      
      Cryptocurrency prices traded higher on Friday morning in Asia despite potential regulations worldwide. Spanish lawmakers gave unanimous support to regulate blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, and an IMF official also called for regulation.

    • US
      
       U.S. job growth likely accelerated in May as warmer weather boosted hiring at construction sites, but wage gains are expected to have remained marginal, pointing to moderate inflation pressures in the economy.

    • AUSTRALIA
      
       Australia's Fair Work Commission (FWC) has raised the minimum wage by 3.5 percent from July 1, it said on Friday, an increase almost double the current industry rate but half what unions had lobbied for.

    • NORTH KOREA
      
      A senior North Korean official will hand over a letter from the country’s leader Kim Jong Un to U.S. President Donald Trump in a rare visit to the White House on Friday as the two sides try to put a derailed summit meeting back on track.

    • JAPAN
      
      Japanese manufacturing activity expanded in May at the slowest pace in seven months as new orders cooled, a revised survey showed on Friday, signalling a softening in domestic demand.

    • BRUSSELS
      
       Belarus has no plans to allow Russia to base troops on its territory, its foreign minister said on Thursday, but could review that if, for example, Poland were to host a permanent U.S. military presence.

    • NIPHAH VIRUS
      
      Two new cases of the deadly brain-damaging Nipah virus have been confirmed in Kerala, where another two people were killed by the virus, a health official said on Thursday.

    • GERMANY
      
      Germany will retain their World Cup title in Moscow to equal Brazil’s record of five wins in the tournament, according to a Reuters poll of financial specialists more used to predicting market moves.