Shares in Asia-Pacific slipped on Friday as investors remained on edge over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 collapsed 591.8 points, or 2.2%, to 25,985.47., with shares of conglomerate SoftBank Group dropping 4.8%.
The Japanese yen traded at 115.50 per U.S. dollar, weaker than levels below 115 seen against the greenback earlier in the week.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index dropped 562.05 points, or 2.5%, to 21,905.29, with shares of HSBC slipping 3.4%.
The major indexes in Asia-Pacific initially extended losses Friday after reports that smoke was visible from a nuclear power plant in Ukraine — the largest in Europe — after Russian troops attacked it.
Some of those losses were later pared after the nuclear power plant’s director said the facility’s nuclear security is secured at the moment. Ukrainian authorities posted a subsequent update that the fire had been put out.
The situation in Ukraine is rapidly deteriorating, and reports from the country are difficult to confirm.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7352 following its general rise from levels below $0.721 earlier this week.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 fell 55.2 points, or 1.2%, to 4,496.43.
In Singapore, the Straits Times index lost 26.87 points, or 0.8%, to 3,226.78.
In Korea, the Kospi index back-pedaled 33.65 points, or 1.2%, to 2,713.43.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index was clobbered 197.88 points, or 1.1%, to 17,736,52
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 dipped 69.63 points, or 0.6%, to 12,141.77.
In Australia, the ASX 200 surrendered 40.58 points, or 0.6%, to 7,110.83.