Most Asian markets were in retreat Friday, with Japanese stocks pushed down by exporters such as Honda Motor Co. and Canon Inc., while Shanghai-listed shares ended sharply lower.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 Average lost 1.9% at 13,423.94 while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dipped 2.2% to 23,113.79.
In Tokyo, exporters ranked among gainers, with shares of Honda (HMC) losing 3.3% and Canon Inc. giving up 3.4%, while Nikon Corp. fell 1.2%.
Energy stocks weakened as crude oil retreated from record highs. Shares of Inpex slid 2.6% and Nippon Oil Corp. fell 2.1%, while Woodside Petroleum ( WOPEY) dropped 1.6% in Sydney. Shares of PetroChina (PTR) lost 2.9% in Hong Kong and 1.8% in Shanghai.
Elsewhere:
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.2% to 5,515.60.
New Zealand's NZX 50 index slipped 0.5% to 3,568.45.
South Korea's Kospi lost 1.5% to 1,678.87.
Taiwan's Weighted index gave up 0.4% to 8,054.37.
Singapore's Straits Times index fell 1.1% to 3,022.59.
China's Shanghai Composite declined 1.8% to 4,444.05, taking losses into a third straight session.
with files fromt other wire services
