Asian stock markets largely fell back on Friday, as global caution on hefty tech-sector capital outlays led to risk-off retreats.

In addition, Brent crude oil traded at $85.91 a barrel, up 2% during Asian market hours.

Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo finished in the red, as did Taiwan. Other regional exchanges were mixed, while trading floors were closed in Seoul.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower on Wall Street cues and declined thereafter, finishing off 4% as traders eschewed semiconductor shares.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 2,694.42 to 64,141.12, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 151 to 71.

Leading the upside was software tester SHIFT, up 9.4% after reporting earnings and issuing guidance. Memory chip maker Kioxia declined 16.1%, following a 15% decline on Thursday.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and could not recover, closing down 1.6% in the worldwide tech-wreck.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 446.36 to 24,562.24, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 67 to 24. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 4.4% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 1.5%.

Leading the upside was utility holding company Power Assets, gaining 3%, while Semiconductor Manufacturing International declined 10%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 3.1% to 3,764.15.

On the other regional exchanges, the Taiwan TWSE declined 6.5%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 0.5%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.5%, but the Thai Set rose 0.2%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.4%.

The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index fell 2.8% on the day.

In other news, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand struck $5.58 billon in the first six months of 2026, up 68% on the year, reported the Department of Business Development.