Asian regional markets mostly declined on Friday, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index leading the losses, impacted by fresh Chinese economic data and geopolitical tensions. Singaporean and US markets also showed weakness.
On Friday, Asian regional stock markets generally faced pressure. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell 1.8% to close at 16,250 points, primarily impacted by weaker-than-expected Chinese manufacturing PMI data and ongoing concerns in the property market. Singapore's Straits Times Index (STI) also declined 0.7% to 3,180 points, as investor worries about slowing global economic growth intensified. US stock futures showed weakness during Asian trading hours, with S&P 500 futures down 0.3%, reflecting market uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's future policy path. While the Malaysian market closed marginally higher, light trading volume indicated investor caution towards regional and global uncertainties. Analysts noted that geopolitical risks and the monetary policy directions of major economies would continue to dictate regional market sentiment.
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