Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday, with investors awaiting Japan’s general election over the weekend.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index toppled 229.73 points, or 0.6%, to 37,913.92.
Japan also released its October inflation numbers for the capital city of Tokyo on Friday, its last key economic data before the election. The Bank of Japan’s 2-day monetary policy meeting will start on Oct. 30.
Tokyo’s headline inflation rate fell to 1.8% in October from 2.2% the month before, with core inflation — which strips out prices of fresh food — also coming in at 1.8%, down from 2%.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the core inflation rate in Tokyo to slow to 1.7% in October.
Tokyo’s inflation is widely considered a leading indicator of nationwide trends.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index regained 100.53 points, or 0.5%, to 20,590.15.
Separately, Singapore’s manufacturing output rose 9.8% year on year in September, beating Reuters poll estimates of a 3.5% growth. But this was sharply lower than the revised 22% jump in August.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 recovered 27.59 points, or 0.7%, to 3,956.42
In Taiwan, the Taiex restocked 155.93 points, or 0.7%, to 23,348,45
In Korea, the Kospi index eked up 2.24 points, or 0.1%, to 2,583.27.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index lost 11.54 points, or 0.3%, to 3,593.41.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 handed back 42.46 points, or 0.3%, to 12,771.61
In Australia, the ASX 200 edged up 5.03 points, or 0.1%, to 8,211.20.
