Asian Stocks Slide as Oil and Bond Yields Rise

📉 Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell around 3% in early Friday trading, while South Korea’s KOSPI dropped about 2.5%. Selling spread across the region as risk-off sentiment strengthened.

🛱 Brent crude held near $109 a barrel, reviving concerns over imported inflation in Japan and South Korea. Elevated U.S. and Japanese bond yields also continued to pressure growth-stock valuations.

đŸ’» Semiconductor and electronic-material stocks were among the hardest hit, while some energy shares such as Inpex moved higher. The divergence suggests markets are reacting more to cost and rate risks than to a broad collapse in demand.

⏳ Attention now turns to U.S. CPI due at 19:30 WIB today, ahead of next week’s FOMC meeting. U.S. equity futures remain relatively steady, suggesting investors are still waiting for further signals rather than entering a full-scale selloff.

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