Major stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region traded lower on Friday as the coronavirus pandemic continued to prompt concerns among investors. The Nikkei plunged following negative data coming from Japan on the inflation and manufacturing outlook.
The DAX opened 0.34 percent lower as Covestro AG fell by 0.96 percent. The FTSE 100 decreased by 0.14 percent, with the International Consolidated Airlines Group SA going down by 2.33 percent. The CAC 40 declined by 0.39 percent as Infineon Tech AG dropped by 2.04 percent.
The euro lost 0.12 percent to the dollar, selling for 1.21545 dollars, while the pound sterling sank 0.50 percent against the greenback to change hands for $1.36690 dollars.
The Nikkei 225 closed 0.44 percent or 125 points lower, while the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.34 percent at its closing bell.
The Shanghai Composite traded 0.54 percent lower and the Shenzhen Composite declined 0.09 percent. Hang Seng sank 1.36 percent or 410 points and the Kospi Composite was down 0.64 percent.