TOKYO – Asian shares were mixed on Friday as investors weighed concerns about the U.S. presidential election and an economic stimulus package, on top of flaring outbreaks of coronavirus.
Looking ahead, markets are awaiting the release of data on the Chinese economy next week. Shares rose in China but fell in Japan, South Korea and Australia.
Stocks ended mostly lower on Wall Street, giving the S&P 500 its third straight loss this week. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% in afternoon trading to 23,429.75.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.5% to 6,176.80. South Korea's Kospi declined nearly 1.0% to 2,337.81. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.1% to 24,425.13, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,338.10. “Asian stocks look set for a mixed.