Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed in the first trading day of the new quarter as a private survey showed Chinese manufacturing activity shrank
in March.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 moved lower 155.45 points, or 0.6%, to 27,665.98.
Sentiment at Japan’s large manufacturers soured in the three months to March, according to the Bank of Japan’s quarterly tankan business sentiment survey.
The headline index for large manufacturers’ sentiment came in at 14, a decline from the previous quarter’s reading of 17.
The Japanese yen traded at 122.73 per U.S. dollar, stronger than levels above 122 seen against the greenback yesterday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index regained 42.7 points, or 0.2%, to 22,039.55.
Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong saw sizable losses on Friday, with Alibaba falling 2.1% and Baidu plunging 4.5%. JD.com shed 2.1%.
Trading in a number of Hong Kong-listed companies, including Chinese real estate firms Kaisa Group and Sunac, was suspended after missing the deadline for reporting annual results.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7503, off levels around $0.747 seen yesterday.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 restocked 53.56 points, or 1.3%, to 4,276.16.
The Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for March came in at 48.1, below the 50-level that separates growth from contraction. That compared against the previous month’s reading of 50.4. Friday’s reading was also the lowest since February 2020.
Data released Thursday also showed Chinese factory activity shrinking in March, with the official manufacturing PMI coming in at 49.5, below February’s reading of 50.2.
The data comes as China battles its most severe Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began.
In other markets
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index recovered 10.59 points, or 0.3%, to 3,419.11
In Korea, the Kospi index sagged 17.8 points, or 0.7%, to 2,739.85.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index deleted 67.88 points, or 0.4%, to 17,625.59.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slipped 20.83 points, or 0.2%, to 12,089.43.
In Australia, the ASX 200 retreated 5.79 points, or 0.1%, to 7,493.80.
