Investing.com - Asian shares fell Friday despite a stable U.S. showing following concerns about the Ebola virus spreading wider as poor services data out of China and regional unease about events in Hong Kong weighed
The Hang Seng Index fell 1.2% at 22,652 as protests continued into Friday and efforts to ease tensions though talks are inconclusive so far.
Japan's Nikkei 225 was off by 0.3% as the dollar saw selling pressure ahead of U.S. jobs data Friday. The index lost the most yesterday in almost two months, on the back of stock selling overseas amid global fears, including an Ebola outbreak.
Markets in China remain shut until Oct. 8, but Hong Kong, where a week of civil protests for democratic elections has halted much of the central business district, will open after a two-day break.
Despite the China holiday, CFLP services PMI was released for September and came in at 54, below an average of 54.6 so far this year, and last month's figure of 54.4.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said he had no plans to resign, but would appoint his second-in-command to represent the government in talks with protesters, as demonstrations continue to paralyzed large parts of the city.
The announcement came at a late news conference Thursday, just minutes before a midnight deadline set by protesters for a response to their demands for his resignation. It was the first hint of conciliation from the city's Beijing-backed government since the standoff began a week ago.
On Friday, details of the talks were not immediately available.
Overnight, U.S. stocks stabilized with the S&P 500 inching out of its three-day slump. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined less than 0.1%. Global markets have come under pressure in recent days amid concerns about the pace of economic growth, particularly in Europe and China, and the potential for market disruptions stemming from Federal Reserve and European Central Bank policy changes.
Elsewhere in Asia, stocks on the S&P/ASX 200 traded lower by 0.3%
Korea's KOSPI was closed for a national holiday.
Overnight, U.S. stocks ended largely unchanged as investors jumped to the sidelines to await Friday's release of the September jobs report, which many hope will provide clues as to the strength of the world's largest economy.
The Dow 30 fell 0.02%, the S&P 500 index end the session unchanged, while the NASDAQ Composite index rose 0.18%.
The Labor Department reported earlier that the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending Sept. 27 decreased by 8,000 to 287,000 from the previous week’s revised total of 295,000.
Analysts had expected jobless claims to rise by 2,000 to 297,000 last week.
The data came after payroll processor ADP on Wednesday said that the U.S. private sector added 213,000 jobs last month, slightly ahead of expectations for jobs growth of 210,000.
Still, investors remained in standby mode ahead Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report, which was expected to show that the economy about 215,000 jobs in September.
Elsewhere, news a man traveling from Liberia infected with the Ebola virus arrived in the United States and came into contact with others rattled nerves by stoking market concerns that if general fears grow, traveling and shopping may slow, which could affect U.S. recovery.
On Friday, expect markets to track the U.S. jobs report.