Asia markets turned in a subdued performance, with major indexes closing in negative territory, as investors watched how U.S.-China trade talks progressed on Friday.
Markets in Japan were again closed for holiday Friday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index slumbered 386.87 points, or 1.3%, to 29,926.50, with financials and tech weighing down the index.
Korean markets dipped, with declines in the autos and tech sectors. Index heavyweight Samsung Electronics, which resumed trade on Friday after a halt, lost 2.1%
Australian markets gave way, with losses seen in the heavily weighted financials sub-index.
In corporate news, HSBC reported a 4% fall in profit before tax for its first-quarter earnings. The bank's revenue for the quarter, meanwhile, climbed to $13.71 billion from $12.993 billion a year ago. Following the results release, its shares in Hong Kong were down 3.5%
In Australia, Macquarie Group announced its full year results, with full year net profit at $2.56 billion Australian dollars ($1.92 billion U.S.). Its shares were up 0.2% at the end of trading, despite most Australian financials declining.
In its debut in Hong Kong, shares of Ping An Group's Good Doctor online health care platform were up slightly at 0.2% from its issue price. It had raised $1.12 billion U.S. after pricing its public offering at HK$54.80 a share.
In currencies, the U.S. dollar traded at 109.04 against the yen late afternoon, which was slightly below Thursday's session low of 109.14. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of currencies, last traded at 92.547 — below a four-month high hit earlier this week.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 dropped 18.4 points, or 0.5%, 8,545.38
On U.S.-China trade talks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Friday — the second and likely final day of the talks — that "very good conversations" have been taking place.
The discussions, led by Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, are expected to cover a wide range of U.S. complaints about China's trade practices, from accusations of forced technology transfers to state subsidies for technology development.
However, a breakthrough deal is viewed as highly unlikely.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index fell 30.3 points, or 0.9%, to 3,545.38
In Korea, the Kospi index settled 25.87 points, or 1%, to 2,461.38
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index gained 15.19 points, or 0.1%, to 10,529.37
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 2.48 points to 8,549.37
In Australia, the ASX 200 slumped 35.38 points, or 0.6%, to 6,062.89
