From the ArcaMax Publishing, Business News Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/businessnews/s-575091-682117
TOKYO (UPI) -- Asian markets followed U.S. stock indexes lower Friday,
although declines were softer than Thursday's pre-holiday losses on
Wall Street.
U.S. markets fell hard Thursday following news the unemployment rate
rose from 9.4 percent to 9.5 percent in June. On Friday, U.S. markets
were closed in observance of Independence Day.
In Japan, the Nikkei average slid 0.6 percent, 60.08 points, to
9,816.07. Tokyo's Topix index lost 3.40 points, 0.37 percent to
920.62. The Singapore Straits Times dropped 21.07 points, 0.91
percent, to 2,299.75.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong bucked the trend, rising 0.14
percent, 25.35 points, to 18,203.40. In Australia, the S&P/ASX index
fell 1.27 percent, 49.10 points, to 3,828.20.
In Japan, Mitsubishi Corp. shares dropped 0.5 percent. Toshiba Corp.
gained 0.85 percent. Nippon Steel lost 1.1 percent.
"After yesterday's surprise jump in U.S. unemployment, with the
Americans off on holiday celebrating Independence Day, we are probably
facing a directionless day," said David Jones, market strategist at IG
Index, The New York Times reported.