Asian markets settled mostly down on Friday, tracking Wall Street’s modest fall overnight on US President Donald Trump's tariffs fears, and signs of escalating geopolitical tensions following reports of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and a huge blast triggered by a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian airfield. Chinese and Hong Kong shares dropped as China stimulus expectations faded, while investors are awaiting results from some of China's biggest banks and consumer firms due next week. Moreover, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined, despite weaker yen and softer inflation data.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,364.83 | -44.12 | -1.31 |
Hang Seng | 23,689.72 | -530.23 | -2.24 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,258.18 | -123.49 | -1.97 |
KLSE Composite | 1,505.45 | 1.29 | 0.09 |
Nikkei 225 | 37,677.06 | -74.82 | -0.20 |
Straits Times | 3,926.45 | -4.04 | -0.10 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,643.13 | 6.03 | 0.23 |
Taiwan Weighted | 22,209.10 | -168.16 | -0.76 |
