Most Asian stock markets down at Friday's close

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Most major Asian stock exchanges closed Friday in red amid persisting geopolitical tensions.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, fell 15.50 points, or 0.43%, to 3,618 at 1007GMT.

China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange dropped 38 points, or 1.17%, to 3,212, while India’s Sensex benchmark slipped by 139.4 points, or 0.24%, to 57,456.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, shed 541.1 points, or 2.47%, to close at 21,404.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock exchange, however, extended its positive streak to a ninth trading day, rising 39.45 points, or 0.14%, to close at a two-month high of 28,150.

The Singapore index also gained 14 points, or 0.41%, to end the day at 3,413.