Asia-Pacific markets mostly lost ground on Friday, led by losses in South Korean stocks after industrial production declined for a second straight month in October. South Korea’s industrial production growth fell 0.3% last month, while the country’s benchmark index, Kospi, fell 1.95% to close at 2,455.91. Investors also assessed November inflation numbers from Japan’s capital of Tokyo, which saw its headline inflation rate come in at 2.6%, a rebound from the 1.8% seen in October. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.37% after the inflation data release to end at 38,208.03.
In other markets, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was up 0.2% in its last hour of trade, while mainland China’s CSI 300 rose 1.14% to close at 3,916.58. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.1%, closing at 8,436.2. The moves come as a Reuters poll said China’s home prices are expected to fall at a slower pace this year and next, and stabilize in 2026, as support measures are starting to take effect.