In Tokyo on Friday the Nikkei 225 dropped 1.71 percent to 16,814.37 and the Topix index fell 1.64 percent to 1,591.28. On the other hand, the Mothers market added 2.06 percent on the session to 902.03. Banks, exporters and some domestically-focused stocks saw declines on the session, but the consumer finance sector saw gains on one lender’s quarterly profits report.

Equities markets elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region were also lower on the session. The Shanghai Composite was 0.12 percent lower to 5,818.05, while in Taiwan the Taiex was down 0.26 percent to 9,611.72. Australian markets declined on losses in the banking and mining sectors. The Sydney Ordinaries fell 0.85 percent to 6,723.3 and the S&P/ASX200 dropped 0.91 percent to 6,706.3. In Singapore the Straits Times index was down 1.62 percent to 3,747.98. South Korea’s Kospi index was 1.75 percent lower to 1,970.1, while in India the Sensex fell again, dropping 2.44 percent to 17,559.98, amid continuing concerns over new rules that could end the use of participatory notes by foreign investors that lets them invest in India’s markets anonymously. The new rules are an attempt to make market activity more transparent.

Most European markets were lower again, with IBEX again the notable exception with a gain of 0.15 percent to 15,529.7. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 dropped 0.56 percent to 1,564.44, while the CAC-40 was down 0.46 percent to 5,740.48 in Paris and the Dax was 0.47 percent lower to 7,884.12 in Frankfurt. Banks and insurers were lower on the session. Car and truck makers were mixed, while there were gains in the steel sector and among aerospace groups.

London’s markets were also lower again. The FTSE 100 dropped 1.23 percent to 6,527.9 while FTSE 250 fell 0.98 percent to 11,299.3. House builders and general construction groups saw gains, as did brewers and the paper sector. Banks, the pharmaceuticals sector, and advertising groups saw declines.

Wall Street was lower at midday as quarterly reports from businesses in various sectors disappointed. The Dow Jones Industrial average was down 1.27 percent to 13,713.05, while the Nasdaq Composite had fallen 1.14 percent to 2,767.32 and the S&P 500 was down 1.12 percent to 1,522.82. Banks, the oil sector, and construction equipment makers were down, but internet search engines saw gains.

Europe higher after BofE, ECB hold rates steady

Most European markets were higher Thursday after the European Central Bank voted to keep interest rates at 4 percent. Madrids IBEX, however, dropped 0.29 percen...

Europe higher after BofE, ECB hold rates steady

Most European markets were higher Thursday after the European Central Bank voted to keep interest rates at 4 percent. Madrids IBEX, however, dropped 0.29 percen...

Mixed day for retail in London as indices rise

Londons equities markets were up significantly on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 added 2.39 percent to 6,280.7, while the FTSE 250 gained 2.16 percent to 11,212.3. Banks...

CAC-40 drops 1.8 percent on session

European markets were lower on Monday as the subprime crisis continued to cause disturbances. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 dropped 1.32 percent to 1,487.28. In Frankf...

Taiex adds 1.67 percent after holiday

Markets were mixed in the Asia-Pacific region on Wednesday. Among gainers, Indias Sensex was up 0.13 percent to 16,921.39 at the close, but it rose to a new rec...