Asia stocks decline as hopes of coronavirus treatment reportedly fails

Asian stocks declined on Friday after an overnight report that raised doubts over a potential coronavirus treatment.

Mainland Chinese stocks dropped by their close, with the Shanghai composite 1.06% lower at about 2,808.53 while the Shenzhen composite shed 1.48% to around 1,736.93. The Shenzhen component also fell 1.33% to 10,423.46. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was about 0.4% lower, as of its final hour of trading.

Over in South Korea, the Kospi fell 1.34% to close at 1,889.01 while the Kosdaq index finished its trading day 1.68% lower at 632.96.

The Nikkei 225 in Japan shed 0.86% to close at 19,262 while the Topix index declined 0.33% to end its trading day at 1,421.29.

Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.49% higher at 5,242.60