Asian equity markets ended Friday on a mixed note, with some of the optimism sparked by China's unexpected 50-basis point reduction in banks' reserve requirement dissipating. Concerns about a possible shift in the Bank of Japan's monetary policy tempered enthusiasm in Japan's Nikkei Index.
The Shanghai Composite Index in China rose by 0.14 percent, ending the trading day at 2,910.22, with trading fluctuating between 2,924.31 and 2,890.48 throughout the day. The Shenzhen Component Index, on the other hand, fell by 0.96 percent, closing at 8,771.44.
The Japanese benchmark Nikkei 225 plummeted by 485 points or 1.34 percent, concluding trading at 35,751.07. Trading throughout the day fluctuated between 36,060.40 and 35,687.58.
Companies such as Pacific Metals, a ferro-nickel business, registered a significant gain, with a 14.4 percent surge. Other companies including Rakuten, Nippon Sheet Glass, JGC Corp, and Panasonic Corp also made gains, while Advantest Corp, SUMCO Corp, Tokyo Electric Power Co, Dainippon Screen Manufacturing, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha all saw more than 3 percent declines.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange's Hang Seng Index fell 260 points or 1.6 percent, concluding trading at 15,952.23. The trading range for the day fluctuated between 16,240.96 and 15,888.04.
Meanwhile, the Korean Stock Exchange's Kospi Index climbed by 0.33 percent, closing at 2,478.56. It fluctuated between 2,453.45 and 2,502.61 throughout the day.
The NZX 50 index of the New Zealand Stock Exchange fell by 15 points or 0.12 percent, closing at 11,875.03, compared to the previous close of 11,889.63. Trading for the day fluctuated between 11,816.91 and 11,889.63.
Shares of EROAD led the gainers with a 2.2 percent surge while NZX fell by 2.8 percent. Others like Meridian Energy, EBOS, and Manawa Energy dipped by over 2 percent. Chorus also fell by 1.9 percent.
On Thursday, Wall Street ended on a high note following the release of a fresh set of earnings reports and updates on GDP, durable goods orders, and unemployment claims. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.18 percent to close at 15,510.50, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 0.64 percent to end trading at 38,049.13.
