Asian equities opened sharply lower Friday as hot U.S. producer prices, a fourth soft Wall Street session, and oil above $100 kept Federal Reserve hike odds elevated into Friday’s consumer price index. Kyodo, via Mainichi, put the Nikkei 225 at 63,279.35 in the first 15 minutes, down 3.05%, or 1,991.60 points. That early Friday print is distinct from Thursday’s Asia open wrap.
A Reuters Sydney Friday morning wrap stamped the Nikkei down 2.8% and the Kospi down 2.7% without absolute levels, milder than the open and labeled as morning session rather than pure open. TradingKey’s secondary open stamps put the Nikkei near 63,336.18, down about 2.96%, and the Kospi at 6,848.73, down 3.30%, with chip and heavyweight names soft in early trade. Those TradingKey levels are secondary and hedged.
Follow-through from the U.S. cash close, when the 10-year yield finished near 4.96%, framed the risk-off open. Early Friday Asia levels can still bounce while the session remains live.
Sources: Kyodo via Mainichi (early Nikkei); Reuters Sydney Friday Asia wrap; TradingKey open stamps (secondary).
