Asian markets end mixed on gloomy economic, corporate data

SINGAPORE: Asia-Pacific region ended mixed on Friday, weighed down by losses on Wall Street and poor investor sentiment after dismal corporate and economic data from the U.S., Europe, Japan and South Korea underlined the severity of the global slowdown. The Dow closed down 226.44 points, or 2.7% at 8,149.01, the Nasdaq closed down 50.50 points, or 3.2%, at 1,507.84 and the S&P 500 closed down 28.95 points, or 3.3%, at 845.14.The Japanese market tumbled, as investors expressed anxiety about poor earnings. Investors were particularly concerned about reports saying that Toyota's operating loss for the year to March may jump to around 400 billion yen from a 150 billion yen loss estimated previously. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed at 7,994, down 257 points or 3.12%, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended down 24 points or nearly 3% at 794.