Asian shares mostly declined Friday as the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to raise its discount rate pushed the dollar higher but hurt investor sentiment and commodity prices, with Hong Kong stocks falling the most.
Japan's Nikkei Stock Average of 225 companies fell 2.1% to 10,123.58 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid back below the 20,000-point level, ending 2.6% lower at 19,894.02.
In Japan, Pacific Metals dropped 3.4% and Fast Retailing Co. gave up 1.5%, with Hitachi Construction Machinery shrinking 3.3%. Toyota Motor Corp. continued to struggle on persisting concerns about the fallout from its string of recent recalls, dropping 1.8%.
Markets in China, Taiwan and Vietnam remained closed for the Lunar New Year holidays.
Elsewhere:
New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.2%
Philippine shares ended 0.7% lower.
Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 1%.
Thailand's SET dropping 0.2%.
Indonesian shares lost 0.5%.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.4%.
South Korea's Kospi fell 1.7%.
