HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks tumbled Friday, with Japan’s Nikkei slumping 2.4% on heavy selling of semiconductor-related shares and other market heavyweights. Tensions in the Middle East were weighing on sentiment across the region, and U.S. futures were sharply lower. Oil prices jumped as the state-run IRNA news agency reported that Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 2.4% to 37,156.54, paring losses in the early trading when it plunged 3.5%. Semiconductor equipment supplier Lasertec was the largest loser, which lost 8.4%. But most other big tech-related shares also dropped. Renesas gave up 6%, Tokyo Electron lost 8.7% and Sony Group Corp. declined 1.8%. Toyota Motor Corp was down 2.2%. Japan’s headline inflation rate slowed to 2.7% in March, the government reported, while the core-core index, excluding fresh food and energy costs, moderated to 2.9%, marking the first time since November 2022 that it fell below 3%. |
Richard Osman reveals his food addiction is still 'absolutely everChampions League semis: Bayern hosts Madrid then Dortmund welcomes PSGOne in THREE people will be struck down with 'silent killer' amid huge surge in conditionCongress moving swiftly on bipartisan action to punish Iran after revenge attack on IsraelEuropean Union official urges G7 to step up air defense for Ukraine and expand Iran sanctionsTunisian journalist sentenced to 6 months in prison for insulting an officialVanderpump Rules' Lala Kent would rather make love with 'a cheese grater' than have sex with exAnnie Kilner is seen for the first time since welcoming her fourth son with husband Kyle WalkerIran stages huge parade of weapons and gooseHaving a stressful job could stave off dementia, according to new analysis