TOKYO/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Asian stocks fell on Thursday after soft economic data in China and Japan showed the trade war between Beijing and Washington hitting growth in some of the world’s biggest economies.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.3%. Japan’s Nikkei stock index fell further, dropping 0.8%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX200 wiped earlier gains to close 0.5% higher, while Shanghai blue chips trod water, supported by expectations the gloomy figures would add to the case for stimulus.
European stock futures point to a flat open after recent rises. U.S. futures were down 0.1%, following a record-high close on the S&P 500 on Wednesday.
China’s industrial production growth slowed sharply in October, with the 4.7% year-on-year rise well below forecasts for 5.4%. Investment growth hit a record low and retail sales also missed expectations.
“The weakness in investment and production would suggest that confidence is down,” said Shane Oliver,…
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