Japan's benchmark indexes declined for the week after tech stocks gyrated, tracking volatile markets in New York. Consumer price inflation eased to a five-month low, raising hopes that the central bank will delay future rate increases.
China's GDP growth slowed to an annual pace of 4.6% in the third quarter, and new home prices continued to fall for the 16th month in a row in September.
Benchmark indexes in Tokyo dropped between 1% and 2% following a sharp sell-off in tech stocks in overnight trading in New York. Tokyo Metro priced its public offering at the upper end of its filing range, the largest public offering in six years.
Investors continued to lower expectations of possible fiscal measures. China's policymakers prepare to raise already high government debt to finance fiscal measures supporting local government.
Market indexes in mainland China and Hong Kong extended losses for the second week in a row amid growing uncertainty about the possible fiscal measures and waning investor confidence.
Stocks traded volatile in Hong Kong and mainland China after the finance minister failed to provide specific details of the widely touted fiscal measures.
Benchmark indexes in Japan extended gains for the third consecutive day and traded at two-week highs. The Japanese yen traded at a three-week high as investors dialed down rate hike expectations in the near future.
China market indexes are set to close down for the first time in four weeks as investors lower fiscal stimulus expectations ahead of the finance minister's press conference on Saturday.
The yen dropped to a six-week low as investors lowered expectations for a rate hike by the Bank of Japan. Producer price inflation accelerated in September following the increase in costs for fertilizers and transportation.
The People's Bank of China launched its swap facility program for institutional investors to exchange financial assets and provide additional liquidity to the stock market.
Japan's major averages edged higher following the gains in tech stocks in overnight trading in New York. Couche-Tard revised its takeover offer for Seven & I by 20%.
Market indexes in mainland China and Hong Kong struggled to advance for the second day in a row after investors reassessed the impact of recently announced monetary and fiscal measures on corporate earnings in the current and the next quarter.
Japan's real household income increased for the fourth consecutive month in August, and average real household spending declined for the first time in two months. Japan's current account surplus rose to a record high after the overall international trade deficit shrank in August.
