Equities in Asia were lower early Friday as a selloff in tech gathered pace amid mounting concerns over the rising cost of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The Nikkei 225 retreated 3,005.46 points, or 4.2%, to 69,360.88
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index shed 405.05 points, or 1.8%, to 22,671.86.
SoftBank Group, which plunged more than 12%, led losses across the region on Friday. South Korean equities finished sharply lower, as the broad-based technology selloff swept across the region.
In other markets;
In Shanghai, the CSI index shrank 151.88 points, or 3%, to 4,868.22.
In Korea, the Kospi index tumbled 519.09 points, or 5.8%, to 8,411.21.
In Singapore, the Straits Times 50 index lost 27.23 points, or 0.5%, to 5,191.73
The Taiex index in Taiwan collapsed 1,683.50 points, or 3.6%, to 44,571.76.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 removed 2.19 points to 13,495.24.
In Australia, the ASX revived 15.53 points, or 0.2%, to 8,764.19.
