Asian share markets ended mostly lower Friday, with Europe’s debt troubles and uncertainty on the progress of the U.S. economic recovery firmly on the agenda.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 average faltered 59.88 points, or 0.6%, to 9,351.40
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped another 257.85 points, or 1.2%, to 21,695.30
Equities suffered heavy losses in the Asia-Pacific region on Thursday, amid rioting and political turmoil in Greece and some disappointing data on the U.S. economy.
Still, after the Asian market close on Thursday, the International Monetary Fund said it would support Greece, and U.S. jobless claims fell more than expected, helping ease jitters a little.
Notable decliners included apparel firm Esprit Holdings Ltd. dropping 4.1%, and Tencent Holdings Ltd. falling 4.2% in Hong Kong.
Nintendo Co. gave up 4.2%, and Daiwa Securities Group Inc. fell 2.7% in Tokyo.
Many Korean technology firms traded sharply lower, with Samsung Electronics Co. down 3.4%, LG Display Co. plunging 6.8%, and LG Electronics Inc. 1.7% lower.
Hynix Semiconductor Inc. tumbled 6.1%, as analysts warned its second-quarter earnings may disappoint.
Technology-sector sentiment wasn’t helped by Blackberry maker Research in Motion Ltd. slumping in U.S. after-hours trading Thursday, after the firm posted weaker-than-expected quarterly results and cut its fiscal-year outlook.
Among the region’s advancers, Olympus Corp., rose 0.6% in Tokyo after an upgrade to overweight from underweight at J.P. Morgan, and Mazda Motor Co. rose 1.6% ahead of its earnings guidance.
Qantas Airways Ltd. ended the Sydney trading session up 0.6% after it said that it will resume flights to New Zealand on Friday. The airline had suspended services due to an ash cloud.
In other markets;
Shanghai’s CSI 300 Index slipped 25.42 points, or 0.9%, to 2,892.16
Korea’s Kospi Index fell 14.70 points, or 0.7%, to 2,031.93
Taiwan’s Taiex Index let go of 18.33 points, or 0.2%, to 8,636.10
Singapore’s Straits Times Index backpedaled 25.42 points, or 0.9%, to 3,005.28
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index docked 12.02 points, or 0.4%, to 3,469.59
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index moved 5.70 points higher, or 0.1%, to 4,484.90.
