Asia report: Shares mixed as tech stocks under pressure

(Sharecast News) - Asian equities ended mixed on Friday as investors weighed stronger Chinese macro data against weakness in regional tech shares, with several major indices reversing early swings.

Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.12% to 65,606.71, dragged lower by selling in chip and AI‑linked names after Lasertec's sharp forecast‑driven drop and continued pressure on SoftBank Group. The broader TOPIX rose 0.47%, showing that weakness remained concentrated in high‑valuation tech stocks rather than the wider market.

South Korea's Kospi narrowed steep intraday losses to finish 0.60% lower at 6,258.77, recovering from a more than 3% plunge as foreign investors sold heavily, led by a 4.88% slide in SK Hynix amid concerns over HBM pricing and shareholder returns.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed 0.54% higher at 25,668.03, lifted by late‑session buying in tech and heavyweight names as sentiment improved on stronger‑than‑expected Chinese data. Mainland markets outperformed, with the Shanghai Composite rising 1.02% to 3,940.04 as healthcare and pharmaceutical stocks surged.

China's latest economic releases added support to regional sentiment. Exports rose 0.9% in June, beating expectations for a modest increase and reinforcing signs of resilience in external demand. Imports jumped 4.4%, suggesting firmer domestic consumption and stronger input demand from manufacturers.

Industrial production also surprised to the upside, rising 0.2% on the month versus expectations for a 0.1% gain, helped by strength in automotive and transport equipment output.