Chinese stocks fell Friday as the rest of Asia-Pacific traded mixed, while Wall Street stocks rallied overnight and oil prices fell.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 39.45 points, or 0.1%, to wrap up the week at 28,149.84.
In Japan, shares of Apple suppliers rose. Murata Manufacturing shares jumped 1.2%, while Alps Alpine climbed 1.2%. Taiyo Yuden was up 1.1%.
Japan reported inflation data, showing its core consumer price index hit a two-year high in March.
The Japanese yen traded at 121.67 per dollar, softer than the day before.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index slumped 541.07 points, or 2.5%, to 21,404.88.
Shares of Hong Kong-listed Russian aluminum producer Rusal surged more than 10% in early trade before reversing to tumble 5.7%. The stock dropped earlier this week after the firm said Monday it was evaluating the impact of a ban announced Sunday by the Australian government on exports of alumina and aluminum ores to Russia.
JD Logistics shares dived nearly 14%, dropping below its offer price. In a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange in the morning, the firm said it will raise 8.53 billion Hong Kong dollars ($1.09 billion U.S.) through a share sale. The subsidiary of e-commerce giant JD.com said the shares will be priced at 20.71 Hong Kong dollars a piece.
The Hang Seng tech index fell nearly 5%, with Alibaba losing 5.62%, Tencent falling 2.6%, JD down 4.7%, and Meituan plunging 8.2%.
Delisting fears continued to be in focus with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adding Chinese social media platform Weibo to a list of Chinese stocks facing the risk of being delisted from the U.S.
Top gainers in Asia afternoon trade include mining firm MMG and Singapore agricultural firm Olam which was up 4%. Notable losers included Nio, which fell 4.9% and China Life Insurance, which was down 2.3%.
Singapore’s Straits Times index was up 0.58% in the afternoon. Research firm Capital Economics and DBS Bank analysts said Friday they now expect Singapore’s central bank to tighten policy at its meeting next month after a major loosening of the country’s Covid restrictions on Thursday.
Over in Taiwan, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company jumped 1.2%, while shares of Hon Hai Precision Industry slipped 0.5%.
The Australian dollar was at $0.7504, as it continued to jump from levels around $0.74 earlier in the week.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 slid 76.74 points, or 1.8%, to 4,174.54.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index poked ahead 13.79 points, or 0.4%, to 3,413.69
In Korea, the Kospi index eked up 0.32 points to 2,729.98.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index backpedaled 22.11 points, or 0.1%, to 17,696.95.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 jumped 37.39 points, or 0.3%, to 12,055.
In Australia, the ASX 200 advanced 19.18 points, or 0.3%, to 7,406.25.
