· Stocks in Asia-Pacific were lower in Friday trade, with South Korea’s Kospi leading losses among the region’s major markets.
The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia was down 0.64% to close at 6,607.40.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares declined 1.12%.
· Nikkei slumps on month-end selling, fears over retail volatility
Japanese shares tumbled for a second day on Friday, giving up early gains, as a boost from technology companies reporting upbeat earnings was overshadowed by investors’ profit-taking and rebalancing at the end of month.
Investors grew nervous about further market turbulences as retail trading frenzy boosts market volatility and talk of more position unwinding by damaged players.
Japan’s Nikkei share average fell 1.89% to 27,663.39, marking its biggest fall since July 31 and slipping below its 25-day moving average price. The broader Topix dropped 1.64% to 1,808.78.
· China stocks end week lower on liquidity worries, but post monthly gain
China stocks recorded a weekly loss of more than 3% on Friday, as worries over tight liquidity conditions dented sentiment, although they posted monthly gains on increasing hopes of an economic recovery.
The blue-chip CSI300 index ended 0.5% lower at 5,351.96, while the Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.6% to 3,483.07.
For the week, CSI300 dropped 3.9%, while SSEC declined 3.4%.
But, for January, the CSI300 was up 2.7%, while SSEC eked out 0.3%, as more investors poured money into the country’s mutual funds that invest in equities.
· European markets retreated Friday morning as market jitters persist over a retail trading frenzy that has rocked Wall Street.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 1.3% in early trade, with banks shedding 1.8% to lead losses as all sectors except telecoms slid into negative territory.
Reference: CNBC
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