·         U.S. stocks rose on Thursday on optimism the United States and China could resolve their trade dispute, after a news report said Washington would pause further tariffs on Chinese imports.

The benchmark S&P 500 index .SPX gained 28.62 points, or 1.06 percent, to 2,730.2, snapping five days of losses. Shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) advanced 2.5 percent to end a five-day losing streak and help the technology sector .SPLRCT climb 2.5 percent, the biggest gain among the S&P 500's major sectors.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 208.77 points, or 0.83 percent, to 25,289.27 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 122.64 points, or 1.72 percent, to 7,259.03.

·         Asia markets traded higher Friday morning despite fresh uncertainties emerging from the U.K. overnight after multiple important ministers resigned from Prime Minister Theresa May's government.

Japan's Nikkei 225 traded up 0.18 percent in early trade while the Topix index gained 0.23 percent. In South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.52 percent.

The mainland Chinese markets, which have been closely watched in relation to the ongoing trade spat between Washington and Beijing, are set to open at 9:30 a.m. HK/SIN.

Reference: Reuters, CNBC