A market in Tokyo in June 2023.
Richard A. Brooks | Afp | Getty Images
Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average drop more than 200 points and S&P 500 retreat from a record high.
Traders in Asia assessed household spending data out of Japan that fell 1.3% in October year-over-year, slower than the 2.6% decline expected by economists polled by Reuters. On a monthly basis, spending grew 2.9% in October compared to September, beating expectations of a 0.4%.
Investors also await India’s interest rate decision on Friday. The Reserve Bank of India is expected to hold its key policy rate at 6.50% after the country’s retail inflation surged to a 14-month high in October.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7% in trading, while the Topix lost 0.6%.
South Korea’s Kospi was down 0.9%, while the Kosdaq dropped 3.1%. Investors continue to monitor the country’s political situation amid moves to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his brief declaration of martial law earlier this week.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 0.5% at open, while mainland China’s CSI 300 opened flat.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was 0.5% lower.
Hong Kong Hang Seng index futures were at 19,637 higher than the HSI’s last close of 19,560.4.
