TOKYO – Asian shares skidded on Thursday as a reality check set in about longtime economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, giving Wall Street its worst day since October.
Benchmarks in Japan, South Korea, Australia and China declined Thursday. The region is looking ahead to earnings season for a read on how companies are faring amid COVID-19 infections, which have been relatively low in some nations such as New Zealand, compared to other global regions.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1.5% to 28,197.42. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1.9% to 6,649.70. South Korea's Kospi sank 1.7% to 3,069.05.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 2.5% to 28,576.97, while the Shanghai Composite shed 1.9% to 3,505.18. The slow majority held by Democrats in