Most Asian markets ended lower Friday, with Japanese shares declining on weakness in real-estate stocks such as Mitsui Fudosan Co., while Hong Kong and Shanghai shares retreated after racing to record highs in intraday trading.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index lost 104.46 points, or 0.63 percent, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to finish at 16,420.47 points while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index fell 18.02 points, or 0.08 percent, to 23,886.07.
Losers included trading companies such as Marubeni Corp., which shed 2.29 percent to 938 yen (US$8.09; euro5.93), and shipping firms such as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., which fell 1.09 percent to 1,725 yen (US$14.87; euro10.91).
Tech shares also dropped, with TDK Corp. losing 1.12 percent to 9,730 yen (US$83.88; euro61.53).
ELSEWHERE:
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi closed 0.4% lower at 1,874.74.
SHANGHAI: The Shanghai Composite closed 0.5% lower at 5,294.04 on profit-taking. Earlier, it tapped a record high of 5,337.44 intraday.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index fell 0.6% to 8,922.98.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.6% to 4,150.53.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index ended 0.4% up at 6,293.30.
with files from other wire services
