Asia report: Markets mixed as investors weigh pandemic sentiment
Markets in Asia finished in a mixed state on Friday, as investors kept watch of the global Covid-19 situation.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.39% at 26,652.52, as the yen strengthened 0.12% against the dollar to last trade at JPY 104.12.
Of the major components on the benchmark index, automation specialist Fanuc was down 0.35%, fashion firm Fast Retailing lost 1.3%, and technology conglomerate SoftBank Group slid 4.73%.
The broader Topix index went the other way, gaining 0.33% by the end of trading in Tokyo to close at 1,782.01.
On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was 0.77% weaker at 3,347.19, and the smaller, technology-heavy Shenzhen Composite lost 1.31% to 2,223.94.
South Korea’s Kospi was ahead 0.86% at 2,770.06, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong managed gains of 0.36% to 26,505.87.
The blue-chip technology stocks were mixed in Seoul, with Samsung Electronics up 0.69%, while SK Hynix fell 0.86%.
Fresh data from the Korean peninsula showed the country’ exports were up 26.9% year-on-year in the first 10m days of September, underpinned by a surge in demand for products such as semiconductors.
Oil prices were lower as the region entered the weekend, with Brent crude last down 0.16% at $50.17 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate slipping 0.06% to $46.75.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was off 0.61% at 6,642.60, as the hefty financials subindex lost 0.86%.
Among the big four banks, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group was down 0.99%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia lost 0.84%, National Australia Bank was 0.89% weaker, and Westpac Banking Corporation declined 0.2%.
Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 added 0.46% to reach a new record high of 12,919.25, with medical equipment maker Fisher & Paykel Healthcare recovering from losses in previous sessions to close up 4.53%.
Both of the down under dollars were weaker against the greenback, with the Aussie last off 0.1% at AUD 1.3285, and the Kiwi retreating 0.24% to NZD 1.4120.