· Asian equities retreat after world stocks hit new record
Most Asian equity markets continued to ignore record highs hit elsewhere in the world and fell in early trading on Friday, though Australia bucked the trend.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.59%, having closed lower on each of the past three days.
Traders have been pointing to continued worries about the potential for new regulatory crackdowns in China and the fallout from the surging Delta variant of the new coronavirus in several countries in the region.
Overnight, MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS) hit a new record high, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) and S&P 500 (.SPX) also closed at record highs for the third consecutive day. Big technology stocks drove the market higher as investors warmed to jobs data showing a steady U.S. economic recovery.
· South Korea stocks lead losses in Asia; Samsung shares fall as heir Lee is released from prison
South Korean stocks led losses among the Asia-Pacific markets in Friday trade, with shares of firms related to conglomerate Samsung falling after the firm’s heir was released from prison.
In Friday trade, shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics plunged 3.38% while Samsung C&T dropped 1.11%. Samsung Life Insurance fell around 1.2% and Samsung SDS declined 1.68%.
· Nikkei slips as chip stocks weigh; posts second weekly gain
Japan’s Nikkei share average ended weaker on Friday, dragged down by declines in chip-related stocks that tracked U.S. peers lower but a surge in heavyweight Recruit Holdings limited losses.
The Nikkei share average edged down 0.14% to close at 27,977.15, while the broader Topix gained 0.15% to 1,956.39. For the week, the Nikkei, however, posted a second straight gain.
· China shares fall as chipmakers retreat; tech stocks weigh on HK
China shares declined on Friday as semiconductor stocks fell after sharp gains, while tech shares weighed on Hong Kong’s benchmark index.
The CSI300 index fell 0.6% to 4,941.48 at the end of the morning session, while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.3% to 3,515.76.
The Hang Seng index dropped 0.7% to 26,331.89, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index slipped 1.0% to 9,367.77.
Chipmakers led the drop in China stocks, with the semiconductor sub-index falling 3.1%. The index has gained around 30% so far this year.
· Indian shares hit record highs on consumer, IT boost
Indian shares touched record highs on Friday, driven by consumer and IT stocks after data showed a slowdown in monthly inflation and the government assured of more support to ease economic strain caused by the pandemic.
The blue-chip NSE Nifty 50 index was up 0.47% at 16,440.10 and the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex rose 0.45% to 55,101.54. Both the indexes are up more than 1% so far this week.
· European markets flat as investors assess data, Covid
European markets were muted on Friday, as investors assessed global economic indicators and rising Covid-19 cases in the search for direction.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 inched 0.1% above the flatline in early trade, with retail stocks adding 0.6% while tech stocks slipped 0.4%.
· FTSE 100 set for fourth straight weekly gain as miners, retailers rise
· Stock futures are flat after S&P 500 closes at another record high
Reference: CNBC, Reuters
Thai
Eng