HONG KONG (Nikkei Markets) -- Asian stocks outside of Japan were little changed on Friday, as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the outcome of a meeting on trade between the U.S. and China.
The Nikkei Asia300 Index edged 0.1% lower to 1,403.80 on Friday. For the week, the gauge declined 1.3%. Investors are watching updates from an ongoing meeting between China-U.S. officials in Washington this week as the two sides seek an agreement on bilateral trade. China on Friday denied that it had offered to reduce U.S. trade deficit with the country by up to $200 billion, according to media reports. Earlier, Reuters and other media reported that U.S. officials said China was proposing trade concessions and promises of increased purchases aimed at cutting the U.S. trade deficit by up to $200 billion a year.
