HONG KONG, May 11: Asian stocks closed lower on Friday with investors taking their lead from Wall Street where weak economic data sparked another bout of jitters over the state of the US economy.
This resulted in the Dow Jones falling 1.11 percent, Tokyo followed suit and closed 1.03 percent lower while benchmarks around the region, most of which had been trading at or near record highs, also fell sharply.
TOKYO: Share prices closed 1.03 per cent lower after heavy losses on Wall Street overnight and concern over domestic earnings reports.
The Nikkei-225 index was down 183.24 points at 17,553.72. Volume fell to 2.32 billion shares from 2.49 billion on Thursday.
HONG KONG: Share prices closed 1.34 per cent lower following a tumble on Wall Street overnight after weak data stoked fresh concerns about the US economy.
The market extended yesterday's fall on negative leads from external markets. Wall Street's losses overnight and weak China markets prompted investors to further sell... and take profit ahead of the weekend, said Jackson Wong, investment manager at Tanrich Securities.
SYDNEY: Share prices closed 0.91 per cent lower as the market followed an overnight sell-off on Wall Street sparked by weak US economic data.
The large bank and mining stocks also took a hit, in part as speculation about a mega-merger between resources giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto faded.
SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.64 percent lower following Wall Street's slump overnight that was driven by weak US economic data.
The Straits Times Index fell 22.34 points to 3,446.92 on volume of 2.63 billion shares worth 1.87 billion Singapore dollars (1.24 billion US).
KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.30 per cent lower on profit-taking sparked by Wall Street's steep losses overnight.
The composite index was down 4.17 points at 1,351.45. Volume traded was 1.2 billion shares worth 2.2 billion ringgit.
JAKARTA: Share prices closed 1.21 per cent down on profit taking, after gains that have seen the main index hit record closing highs over the last two days.
The composite index closed down 24.734 points at 2,022.297 on volume of 4.17 billion shares worth 4.03 trillion rupiah (454.59 million dollars).
WELLINGTON: Share prices fell 0.59 per cent as leading stocks dropped in line with Wall Street and major regional markets.
The NZX-50 gross index fell 25.01 points to 4,226.39 on turnover worth 128.4 million dollars (93.6 million US).
The market's second largest stock Fletcher Building fell 32 cents to 11.57 dollars, having briefly hit a record high of 12.01 on Thursday.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed up 0.18 per cent Friday in choppy trade as investors steered clear of building up positions ahead of the weekend.
Dealers said data showing India's inflation rate eased by a tenth of a percentage point to 5.66 per cent failed to lift sentiment as it remained above the central's target of 5.0 per cent.
The Mumbai 30-share Sensex index closed up 24.93 points at 13,796.16.—AFP