Asian markets close in deep red on Friday

The Asian markets closed mostly lower on Friday, led by late hour sell off in the Chinese market as brokerages tumbled after authorities launched probes for alleged violations of trading rules. Also, reports showed that profits earned by Chinese industrial companies fell 4.6 percent year on year in October, sparking fresh concerns about an economic hard landing. Japanese stocks too fell in thin trade, moving further away from the elusive 20,000 mark that has not been hit since mid-August. Data showed Japan's core consumer prices fell for the third straight month, underscoring the fragile nature of the economy. The core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes fresh foods, fell by 0.1 percent on-year last month as a result of sliding commodity prices. Poor economic data from China and regulators’ continued probes into China brokerages send Hong Kong stocks lower. Seoul shares ended lower amid lack of cues from Wall Street and rising tensions between Russia and Turkey.