Asian markets showed mixed performance on Friday, with Singapore's Straits Times Index falling 0.5% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropping 0.8%. These declines were largely influenced by lingering concerns over a global economic slowdown and cautious investor sentiment ahead of key economic data releases.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 13, 2026 – Major stock markets across Southeast Asia and North Asia displayed mixed performances on Friday, reflecting cautious investor sentiment regarding the global economic outlook. Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.5% to 3,210 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.8% to 16,850 points, primarily dragged down by technology and property sectors. Analysts noted that lingering concerns over a global economic slowdown and uncertainty surrounding the US Federal Reserve's future interest rate path continued to weigh on regional markets. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei 225 and South Korea's KOSPI recorded marginal gains, indicating some optimism for local economic recoveries.
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