Defense stocks throughout Asia experienced an uptick on Friday as investors remained vigilant regarding persistent geopolitical tensions, particularly in light of the U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and President Donald Trump’s renewed initiative to acquire Greenland. Shares of South Korean Hanwha Aerospace experienced an increase exceeding 11%. Poongsan experienced an increase exceeding 6%, while Korea Aerospace saw a rise of 4.9%. In Japan, shares of Kawasaki Heavy Industries increased by 3.17%, whereas IHI experienced a gain of 3.32%.

Regional markets exhibited a mixed performance. China’s CSI 300 inched 0.45% higher to close at 4,758.92 following a 0.8% increase in December consumer prices compared to the previous year, as reported. The reading followed a 0.7% increase in November and aligned with the forecasts of economists in a poll. In December, factory-gate prices experienced a decline of 1.9% compared to the previous year, which is an improvement over the anticipated 2% decrease. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index increased by 0.32%. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 increased by 1.61% to conclude the trading day at 51,939.89, whereas the Topix advanced by 0.85% to 3,514.11.

Fast Retailing’s shares surged over 7% following the announcement that the Japanese operator of Uniqlo experienced a quarterly operating profit increase of approximately one-third, prompting an upward revision of its full-year forecast. The company reported robust global sales that mitigated the effects of U.S. tariffs, indicating it is poised for a fifth consecutive year of profit growth, bolstered by increased sales in China and swift expansion in North America and Europe. South Korea’s Kospi increased by 0.75%, concluding the trading session at 4,586.32, while the small-cap Kosdaq experienced a rise of 0.41%, finishing at 947.92. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 registered a minor decline, settling at 8,717.8. Shares of Rio Tinto declined by more than 6% following the announcement late Thursday regarding the initiation of early-stage buyout discussions with Glencore. A successful merger would result in the formation of a mining behemoth with an estimated valuation of approximately $207 billion.

U.S. equity futures exhibited minimal movement during the early hours in Asia, as market participants awaited a significant jobs report for December and a possible ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court regarding tariffs. The Supreme Court may soon deliver a decision regarding the legality of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a ruling that could significantly influence trade policy and the country’s fiscal landscape. Overnight in the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced an increase, whereas the Nasdaq Composite faced downward pressure as investors shifted their focus away from technology stocks. The 30-stock Dow increased by 270.03 points, representing a rise of 0.55%, concluding at 49,266.11. The tech-heavy Nasdaq experienced a decline of 0.44%, concluding the session at 23,480.02. The S&P 500 experienced a marginal increase of 0.01%, concluding the trading session at 6,921.46. Among the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, information technology emerged as the underperformer, declining by over 1%.