BEIJING – Asian stock markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street sank following signs damage to the U.S. economy from the coronavirus is worsening while Congress is deadlocked over possible new aid.Shanghai and Tokyo retreated while Hong Kong and Seoul gained.Investors have been encouraged by progress in developing vaccines.
But optimism has been dented by rising infection numbers in the United States and some other markets, which prompted renewed curbs on business.Overnight, Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index slipped 0.1% after the government reported more people than expected applied for unemployment last week.
The index hit an all-time high on Tuesday.“While the stimulus deadlock is proving to be the ultimate rally capper, it was the.