Asian Markets Lower

Asian stock markets were lower in early trading Friday.

Tokyo’s Nikkei index lost four-tenths of a percent , to close at 10,040.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped three-quarters of a percent , to end at 22,877.

Elsewhere, share prices were lower in Shanghai, Taipei, Wellington and Manila. Sydney markets closed slightly higher.

The dollar was selling at 83.88 yen in currency trading, up a quarter of a yen from late Thursday.