Stocks in Asia Pacific were mixed on Friday as uncertainty over the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak continues to weigh on investor sentiment.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index regained 724.83 or 3.9%, to 19.389/43,
The Japanese yen traded at 108.60 against the U.S. dollar after strengthening from levels above 110 yesterday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index restocked 131.94 points, or 0.6%, to 23,484.28.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6087 after seeing levels below $0.58 earlier in the trading week.
A surge in reported infections in recent days has made the U.S. the country with the largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases. Globally, more than 531,800 have been infected while at least 24,000 lives have been taken, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University.
CHINA
The CSI 300 recovered 12.01 points, or 0.3%, to 3,710.06
On the economic data front, China’s industrial profits for January-February plunged 38.3% year-on-year, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics.
The period covered by the data release coincided with lockdowns announced by the Chinese government to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the country, where the disease was first reported.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi index gained back 31.49 points, or 1.9%, to 1,717.73
In Taiwan, the Taiex dropped 37.44 points, or 0.4%, to 9,698.92
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index regrouped 41.2 points, or 11.7%, to 2,528.76
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 erased 75.74 points, or 0.8%, to 9,556.73
In Australia, the ASX 200 ditched 270.86 points, or 5.3%, to 4,842.43
