Asian markets ended mostly lower on Friday ahead of key US payrolls data due out later in the day. Market sentiments weakened further by tracking Wall Street’s fall overnight as strong labor market data fueled uncertainty about early interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, Chinese and Hong Kong shares leading regional losses on persistent concerns over economic recovery, while four Chinese bad debt managers were downgraded by Fitch Ratings in line with concerns over their financial situation and hopes of reduced government support. Although, Japanese shares gained as a weaker yen boosted exporters.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 2,929.18 | -25.17 | -0.86 |
| Hang Seng | 16,535.33 | -110.65 | -0.67 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,350.62 | -9.14 | -0.12 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,487.61 | 10.35 | 0.70 |
| Nikkei 225 | 33,377.42 | 89.13 | 0.27 |
| Straits Times | 3,184.30 | 10.29 | 0.32 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,578.08 | -8.94 | -0.35 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 17,519.14 | -30.51 | -0.17 |
