Asian stocks fall with most of the markets in the region closed for a holiday after U.S. stocks closed out their worst month since September
HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks fell Wednesday with most of the markets in the region closed for a holiday. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks closed out their worst month since September.
Oil prices were lower and U.S. futures were mixed.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.4%, down to 38,271.77 after the country’s factory activity experienced a milder shrink in April, as the manufacturing purchasing managers’ index from au Jibun Bank rose to 49.6 in April from 48.2 in March. A PMI reading under 50 represents a contraction, and a reading of 50 indicates no change.
The yen continues to struggle. On Wednesday, the U.S. dollar rose to 157.88 Japanese yen from 157.74 yen.