Shares in the Asia-Pacific fell on Thursday as investors await inflation data from the U.S. due later stateside.
The Nikkei 225 tumbled 159.41 points, or 0.6%, to 26,237.42.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 311.92 points, or 1.9%, to 16,389.11.
Authorities in Japan did not intervene despite the yen slumping overnight to 146.98 against the U.S. dollar — weaker than the 145.9 level that prompted officials to step in in September.
Toshiba’s stock rose more than 9% after local media Kyodo reported a potential buyout and closed 7.38% higher. Japan’s yen strengthened after touching 146.98 per dollar.
Elsewhere, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s earnings topped estimates by posting a surge of almost 80% in its third-quarter net profit from a year ago.
The Apple supplier’s net income rose to 280.9 billion new Taiwan dollars ($8.81 billion U.S.) for the July-September quarter – compared with 156.26 billion new Taiwan dollars for the same period in 2021.
Analysts expected net profit of 265.64 billion new Taiwan dollars, according to Refinitiv data
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 handed over 31.64 points, or 0.8%, to 3,752.67
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index retreated 42.74 points, or 1.4%, to 3,040.45.
In Taiwan, the Taiex stumbled 270.51 points, or 2.1%, to 12,810.73
In Australia, the ASX 200 slid 4.93 points, 0.1%, to 6,642.61.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slumped 55.75 points, or 0.5%, to 10,817.48.
