Asian markets hit by ECB disappointment
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A pedestrian walks past an electronic stock indicator in the window of a securities company in Tokyo on June 29, 2012. Asian markets retreated and the euro came back under pressure on Friday after the European Central Bank (ECB) dashed traders' hopes for strong policy actions to support troubled eurozone economies. -- PHOTO: AFP
HONG KONG (AFP) - Asian markets retreated and the euro came back under pressure on Friday after the European Central Bank (ECB) dashed traders' hopes for strong policy actions to support troubled euro zone economies.
Downbeat earnings reports from two of Japan's biggest electronics firms also weighed on the Nikkei, with Sharp losing more than a quarter of its value in the morning session.
Tokyo fell 1.13 per cent, or 98.07 points, to 8,555.11, Seoul shed 1.11, or 20.72 points, to 1,848.68 and Sydney closed 1.12 per cent, or 48.0 points, lower at 4,221.5.
In the afternoon, Hong Kong shed 1.07 per cent, but Shanghai was 0.27 per cent up.
