Asian stock markets closed lower on Friday as investors await US non-farm payrolls employment data scheduled for release later in the day.
Analysts expect employment to go up by 250,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate is predicted to stand at 3.7%.
Japan’s international reserves dropped by a record $54 billion month-on-month in September to $1.24 trillion, the lowest level since March 2017, Finance Ministry data revealed.
The international reserves of China, meanwhile, amounted to $3.03 trillion last month, down by $25.9 billion from August, official figures showed on Friday.
Data by the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Exchange showed reserves at $3.055 trillion in August, declining from $3.22 trillion in January.
Also, the third quarter earnings of Advanced Micro Devices, one of the world’s leading chip manufacturers, and Samsung Electronics did not meet expectations.
Both companies forecast profitability to decrease in the last quarter due to the falling consumer demand.
With these developments, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index depreciated by 0.71% to 27.116 points, while South Korea’s Kospi index decreased 0.22% to 2,232 points.
Australia’s ASX 200 index went down 0.8% to 6,762 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.28% to 17,781 points.
India’s Sensex index fell 0.33% to 58,036 points.
In Chinese markets, on the other hand, the public holiday Golden Week continues.
Source: Anadolu Agency