Shares fell in Japan and Australia on Friday, with most of the other major Asian markets closed for the New Year holidays.
Japan’s Nikkei 225
NIK, -0.30%,
which was closed on Thursday for a public holiday, slipped 0.3%. Australia’s S & P / ASX 200
XJO, -0.46%
Down 0.5% after the state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, imposed a five-day coronavirus lockdown from Saturday. The new restrictions were announced at a quarantine hotel following a COVID-19 outbreak.
Other Asian markets, including Hong Kong, mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, were closed for holidays. Chinese markets will reopen next Thursday, while Hong Kong markets will reopen on Tuesday.
Benchmark US crude oil in the energy markets
CLH21, -0.69%
Electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell to $ 57.79 a barrel. Brent crude oil
BRNJ21, -0.62%,
The global benchmark fell to $ 60.72 a barrel in London.
The dollar
USDJPY, + 0.07%
was changed little at 104.82 yen.
