Asian stock markets take hit from new coronavirus variant

All Asian indices post negative figures as new variant detected in South Africa negatively affected markets

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - Stock markets in Asia closed on Friday in the red, driven mainly by uncertainties over a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa.

Despite a softening of ongoing strict coronavirus measures in Japan being on the agenda, the new variant affected markets negatively.

In addition, in Japan the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November increased by 0.5% year on year, surpassing expectations.

In China, authorities on Thursday protested US sanctions imposed on 12 of its firms, according to Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua.

"The US has overstretched the concept of national security and imposed sanctions arbitrarily," Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting told a news conference.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, went down 72.78 points, or 1.90%, to close at around 3,754 points.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange was down 747.66 points, or 2.53%, to 28,751.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, diminished 659.64 points, or 2.67%, to 24,080.

China's Shanghai stock exchange was down 20.09 points, or 0.56%, to 3,564 points, while the Indian Sensex benchmark decreased 1,381.24 points, or 2.35%, to close at 57,413 points.

The Singapore index lost 57.03 points, or 1.77%, to 3,164.

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