Broader Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Thursday, tracking Wall Street’s declines on concerns about U.S.-China trade relations.
The Nikkei 225 staggered 666.18 points, or 1.4%, to 48,641.61.
Shares of SoftBank pared earlier losses to end 4.66% lower after it announced plans to issue U.S.-dollar and euro-denominated bonds, according to a filing on the Tokyo stock exchange Thursday, as the company amps up its artificial intelligence investments.
The Japanese conglomerate will issue around $2 billion U.S.-dollar-denominated bonds in two tranches, and about 750 million euros ($870 million) worth of hybrid notes. These will have interest rates between 6.5% and 8.25%.
SoftBank said that the money raised will be used for “general business purposes,” according to a Google translation of the filing.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index recovered 186.21 points, or 0.7%. to 25,067.98.
South Korea’s Kospi index erased earlier gains Thursday after touching a record high, following the central bank’s decision to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5% in line with expectations.
In Korea, the Kospi lost 38.12 points, or 1%, to 3,845.56.
The Korean won weakened 0.19% against the greenback to 1,434.70, its lowest level since May.
CHINA
The CSI 300 in Shanghai gained 13.78 points, or 0.3%, to 4,606.35.
Trade fears resurfaced after Reuters reported Wednesday stateside that the Trump administration is considering curbs on exports to China that are made with U.S. software, citing a U.S. official and three people briefed by U.S. authorities.
The sources said that the plan, which could cover a wide range of items from laptops to jet engines, might not move forward, however, and that it’s not the only option that’s being discussed.
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex index dropped 116.65 points, or 0.4%, to 27,532.26.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index advanced 22.35 points, or 0.5%, to 4,416.27
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 restocked 70.66 points, or 0.5%, to 13,377.10
In Australia, the ASX 200 poked ahead 2.73 points to 9,032.75.
