Eduardo Sifuentes
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preCharge News FINANCE — Hong Kong markets fell over 2% on Friday as Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed, due to uncertainty around the U.S. economy.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slid 2.19% and ended at 23,689.72, dragged by healthcare and consumer cyclical stocks, while mainland China’s CSI 300 fell 1.52% to close at 3,914.7.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to 37,677.06, and the broad-based Topix added 0.29% to close at 2,804.16, notching a seven-day winning streak.
The Topix had earlier hit an intraday high of 2,818.04, its highest level since July 2024.
South Korea’s Kospi added 0.23% to 2,643.13 and marked five straight days of gains, while the small-cap Kosdaq dipped 0.79% to end at 719.41.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.16% higher, closing at 7,931.2.
| Symbol | Company | Name | Price | Change | %Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .AXJO | S&P/ASX 200 | ASX 200 | 7,931.20 | +12.30 | +0.16% |
| .FTFCNBCA | CNBC 100 ASIA IDX | CNBC 100 | 10,523.98 | -53.28 | -0.50% |
| .HSI | Hang Seng Index | HSI | 23,689.72 | -530.23 | -2.19% |
| .KS11 | KOSPI Index | KOSPI | 2,643.13 | +6.03 | +0.23% |
| .N225 | Nikkei 225 Index | NIKKEI | 37,677.06 | -74.82 | -0.20% |
| .SSEC | Shanghai | SHANGHAI | 3,364.83 | -44.12 | -1.29% |
| 1211-HK | BYD Co Ltd | 1211 | 391.60 | -32.60 | -7.69% |
Japan’s headline inflation rose 3.7% year on year in February, easing from a two-year high of 4% seen in January.
U.S. stock futures traded around the flatline after an attempt at extending Wednesday’s Federal Reserve-fueled rally sputtered.
Overnight in the U.S., the S&P 500 slipped 0.22%, thwarting the market’s attempts at recovery from a monthlong rout to close at 5,662.89. The Nasdaq Composite slid 0.33% to end the day at 17,691.63, weighed down by losses in Apple and Alphabet. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched down 11.31 points, or 0.03%, and closed at 41,953.32.
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Associated Press, CNBC News, Fox News, and preCharge News contributed to this report.
This is a developing news story. More information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
