Most Asian stocks dropped on Friday as investors grew increasingly concerned about surging oil prices and bond yields, while key jobs data later in the day will be pored over for an idea about the US Federal Reserve's next interest rate move.

In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index plunged 640 points, or 2.6 percent, to 23,972 on turnover of HK$145.8 billion.

The tech index dropped 95 points, or 2.3 percent, to 4,157 while the China enterprises index fell 189 points, or 2.3 percent, to 8,030.

Yields on US Treasuries and government debt in many other major economies spiked on Thursday as fears that the surging cost of energy caused by the Middle East crisis would force central banks to ramp up borrowing costs well into next year.

And while they eased back in early business on Friday, angst continued to flow across trading floors, compounded by fresh worries of another flare-up in the US-Iran war.

Both main crude contracts were down following the previous day's surge but they remain elevated with Washington and Tehran deadlocked on ending the crisis and unable to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Adding to unease, Axios said the US military was sending more warships, jets and troops to the region amid speculation US President Donald Trump could resume the war.

It said the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group could arrive in the Middle East next month.

"Bond markets are now pricing in four further 25-basis-point rate hikes by June 2027," said Forex.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada.

"That marks a dramatic shift in expectations from before the US-Iran war at the start of the year, when markets were anticipating at least 100 basis points of rate cuts over the same period."

He pointed out that the Bloomberg Commodity Index had jumped more than 37 percent year on year and was set for one of its largest 12-month gains since the 2022 energy crisis.

"The scale of the advance points to a renewed wave of commodity-driven inflation, complicating the outlook for central banks as borrowing costs continue to rise," he warned.

US non-farm payrolls figures later on Friday are in focus as traders try to ascertain the Fed's next move after last month's rate hike.

A below-forecast read on the bank's preferred measure of inflation this week helped ease concerns for a second successive lift on October 28, but a strong jobs read could strengthen the case for such a move.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 retreated 647 points, or 0.94 percent, to close at 68,309, shaving its weekly advance to 2.9 percent from a six-week high as investors locked in gains. The broader Topix slipped roughly almost 41 points, or 1 percent, to 4,091.

In Seoul, the Kospi ended 32 points, or 0.46 percent, higher for the day but 1.09 percent down for the week as rising global bond yields undercut equity prices by putting a premium on borrowing costs.

That came as SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won is to sell a 2.26 percent stake in ⁠SK Corp for about 944 billion won to fund a divorce settlement, though he will remain the top shareholder of the holding firm of the South Korean conglomerate. (AFP & Reuters)



Edited by Edmond Fong