HONG KONG (AP) — Asia stocks were mostly lower on Friday after gains for Big Tech shares helped U.S. stock indexes claw back much of their slide from the day before.
U.S. futures and oil prices were higher.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index was up 0.4% at 39,609.60, with the dollar standing at 153.23 Japanese yen, slightly lower than the 34-year high of 153.32 yen it reached on Wednesday.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 1.7% to 16,826.98 and the Shanghai Composite index edged 0.1% lower, to 3,032.22. China’s trade data for March will be released later in the day.
“The resilience of Asian equities is noteworthy, especially considering the stronger U.S. dollar and China’s ongoing deflationary challenges,” Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said in a commentary.
South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.7% to 2,686.89 after the Bank of Korea held its benchmark rate unchanged at 3.50%.
Strictly star Giovanni Pernice's former partner Rose Ayling
Loosening building products red tape 'good first step'
Queen Mary and King Frederik slammed for 'unprofessional' approach over the Easter long weekend
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Kirsten Dunst says she STILL gets a Christmas cake from Interview With The Vampire co
Penny Lancaster, 53, showcases her endless legs in a thigh
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
Through the palace keyhole... by those who were there
The government wants to buy their flood
Prince Harry WILL attend King Charles' Coronation but not Meghan Markle