Japanese stocks fell Friday, leading the region in a broad retreat, as investors digested a survey showing softer corporate sentiment.
Japan's 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 0.1 percent at 15,514.51, extending its downward trend after two days of heavy losses. Year-to-date, the Nikkei is down 10 percent. The more inclusive Topix index fell 1 percent to 1,501.25.
The Hang Seng Index fell 0.7 percent to 27,563.64 while the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, a local benchmark of mainland companies, fell 2.4 percent to 15,957.46.
Shares of Mitsubishi UFJ fell 4.8 percent, adding to a 7.9 percent drop in the previous session. Mizuho Financial Group shed 2 percent, adding to a 5.3 percent loss on Thursday.
Hong Kong notables included ports-to-cellular-services conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, shares of which added 0.5 percent. Shares of HSBC Holdings added 0.3 percent, coinciding with reports the bank will receive NT$47.49 billion ($1.46 billion) from the Taiwanese government and make a cash injection of between $300 million to $400 million to rescue troubled lender Chinese Bank.
Shares of robotic-equipment assembly maker Fanuc climbed 2.4 percent while semiconductor-equipment assembly maker Nikon Corp jumped 5 percent.
In other Tokyo action, shares of Riken Electric Wire jumped more 21.2 percent after parent group Furukawa Electric Co Ltd said it will seek to acquire the outstanding shares in the company it does not already own under a stock swap.
Shares of Tokyo Star Bank jumped 8.9 percent on reports majority stakeholder Lone Star, a U.S. investment fund, was nearing a deal to sell its stake to private equity fund Advantage Partners.
ELSEWHERE:
JAKARTA: Indonesia's benchmark JSX Composite was off 0.6 percent.
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi fell 1.1 percent.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times index was down 0.4 percent.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted Price index eased 0.9 percent.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1.6 percent.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index climbed 0.2 percent.
with files from other wire services
