HONG KONG: Asian markets fell on Friday, putting the region on course to end a broadly positive week on a sour note, as traders took a step back and their profits off the table.
There was also some unease after the head of the European Central Bank raised concerns about the growth outlook for the eurozone owing to issues within and outside the bloc.
The pound showed some resilience, even as European leaders refused pleas for help from Prime Minister Theresa May to push their Brexit deal through a fractured British parliament.
Signs of easing tensions in the China-US trade row helped propel equities this week, with both sides seeming to give key concessions, fuelling hopes they can eventually resolve their differences.
But observers noted that dealers will remain on alert for any negative news, including further developments in China's detention of two Canadians on suspicion of threats to national security.
That move came after a top executive at Chinese telecoms giant Huawei was arrested in Ottawa. She faces extradition to the US over allegations the firm broke sanctions on Iran.
In early trade Hong Kong fell 1.6 percent and Shanghai was down 0.4 percent.
Tokyo finished the morning 1.7 percent lower. A survey of confidence among Japan's big businesses showed they remain cautious, with worries about the global outlook offsetting fading concerns about the impact of this year's major earthquakes and typhoons.
Sydney fell 1.2 percent, Singapore was 1.3 percent off and Seoul shed 1.5 percent while Taipei was also more than one percent lower. Wellington, Manila and Jakarta were also down.
On currency markets the pound was holding its own -- maintaining gains won after May's no-confidence vote win -- despite the growing prospects of Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
With her agreement having no chance of passing through parliament in its present form, the PM called on her EU counterparts in a Brussels summit to give her some leeway that could get her majority support.
But she has so far failed to win any concessions on the main sticking point over Northern Ireland's future relationship.
The euro continued to struggle after being sold Thursday in reaction to ECB boss Mario Draghi's assessment that there were increasing risks to the eurozone.
After announcing the end to years of bond-buying stimulus, Draghi warned of "persistent uncertainties relating to geopolitical factors, the threat of protectionism, vulnerabilities in emerging markets and financial market volatility".
- Key figures around 0230 GMT -
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.7 percent at 21,439.16 (break)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 1.6 percent at 26,111.39
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 2,622.85
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2633 from $1.2660 at 2130 GMT
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1360 from $1.1361
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 113.46 yen from 113.61 yen
Oil - West Texas Intermediate DOWN eight cents at $52.50
Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 26 cents at $61.19 per barrel
New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 24,597.38 (close)
London - FTSE 100: FLAT at 6,877.50 points (close)
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