Emerging-Market Assets Notch Up Fifth Consecutive Weekly Gain

Emerging-market assets edged lower Friday as softer economic data in the US raised concerns around growth in the world’s largest economy.

All the same, an index tracking emerging-market currencies notched up its fifth straight weekly advance after rallying in previous sessions on optimism over progress in US trade talks. Stocks, meanwhile, advanced 3% in the week, taking the MSCI EM equities index to its highest level since October.