Asian markets settled mostly down on Thursday ahead of key US jobs data due this week that could influence the Federal Reserve's rate trajectory. Japanese shares tumbled amid profit-taking in the AI sector and as trade tensions heat up with China by launching an anti-dumping investigation into dichlorosilane, a critical chemical gas used in the manufacture of semiconductors and solar panels. Meanwhile, Japan's real wages in November dropped 2.8% from a year earlier, falling for the 11th straight month and at the fastest pace since last January. Although, South Korea's Kospi index ended nearly flat after hitting a fresh all-time high earlier in the session, driven by strong demand for semiconductor shares and robust earnings forecasts from companies like Samsung Electronics.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 4,082.98 | -2.79 | -0.07 |
| Hang Seng | 26,149.31 | -309.64 | -1.17 |
| Jakarta Composite | 8,925.47 | -19.34 | -0.22 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,669.57 | -7.26 | -0.43 |
| Nikkei 225 | 51,117.26 | -844.72 | -1.63 |
| Straits Times | 4,739.07 | -8.55 | -0.18 |
| KOSPI Composite | 4,552.37 | 1.31 | 0.03 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 30,360.55 | -74.92 | -0.25 |
