Asian Markets Update: Most Markets End Lower, Seoul Edges Higher

TOKYO -- Most Asian stock markets ended lower Friday, as the U.S. presidential election and the pressure it exerted on Wall Street continued to cast a shadow over the region's equities.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 closed down 71.5 points, or 0.5%, at 14,988.5 and the Topix index, which includes all shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, fell 10.4, or 0.7%, to 1417.0.

Most Japanese technology and telecom shares remained limp, as Sony(SNE) fell 210 yen, or 2.3%, to 8,850 ($82.37); NTT DoCoMo (NTDMY) tanked 90,000 yen, or 3% to close at 2.9 million; and Fujitsu (FJTSY) dropped 35 yen, or 1.7%, to 2,015.

TDK (TDK) was a standout, jumping 930 yen, or 8.8%, to 11,480, after the company said it expects healthy profits for the current year.

Banks eked out gains. Tokai Bank rose 2 yen, or 0.4%, to 575 and Bank Tokyo Mitsubishi (MBK) closed up 7 yen, or 0.6%, at 1,225.

The dollar traded at 107.44 yen, up from 107.32 yen Thursday.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also ended in the red, falling 115.4, or 0.7%, to 15,389.4. Taiwan's TWSE index closed near unchanged at 6088.7.

South Korea's Kospi index managed to close higher, rising 4.5, or 0.8%, to 565.2. Korea Electric Power (KEP) helped, as it rose 1,150 won, or 4.3%, to 28,100 ($24.82). SK Telecom (SKM) limited gains, however, falling 2,500 won, or 0.9%, to 272,000.

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