Stock indexes across Asia ended mostly lower Thursday as early attempts at positive territory faded. Global trade worries, and they’re impact on tech shares, persisted, souring the mood for much of the region.
Japan’s Nikkei NIK, -0.01% closed little changed on the day after spending time in positive and negative territory. Automakers proved to be a bright spot for the Nikkei , with Toyota 7203, +1.09% , Nissan 7201, +0.23% and Honda 7267, +0.12% making gains.
Korea’s Kospi SEU, -1.19% closed down 1.1% after an up-and-down session. Tech names eventually dragged the Kospi lower, including Samsung 005930, -2.40% and SK Hynix 000660, -2.00% which both struggled.
The Shanghai Composite SHCOMP, -0.93% rose initially but closed down 0.9% and the Shenzhen 399106, -1.19% shed 1.1% by closing time.
Hong Kong stocks HSI, +0.50% bucked the late reversal for much of the region, closing up 0.5% after closing Wednesday at a six-month low. As hand-wringing on retail-investor demand for Xiaomi’s IPO has circulated, a much-smaller deal has taken off. Grace Wine 8146, +113.46% , which raised HK$40.6 million ($5.2 million) in its deal to fund growth efforts, jumped 49% from its IPO price Wednesday and surged a further 113% on Thursday.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 XJO, +0.31% edged up, thanks to the fresh overnight jump in oil prices LCOQ8, +0.67% lifting energy-related stocks. New Zealand’s NZX 50 NZ50GR, +0.03% finished just in the positive, enough for its first record closing high in two weeks.
