Asian shares showed mixed performance on Friday following a sharp decline in Walmart’s stock, which pulled Wall Street off its record highs. Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.1% in morning trading, benefiting from a weak yen that supports export-reliant manufacturers. The U.S. dollar rose to 150.42 Japanese yen, while the euro remained stable at $1.0502. Japan’s core consumer price index rose 3.2% in January, influencing the Bank of Japan’s interest rate decisions. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3%, and South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 2.7% due to Alibaba’s robust financial results. Alibaba’s New York-traded stock rose 8.1% after reporting strong revenue growth driven by artificial intelligence. The Shanghai Composite gained 0.6%. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.5%. Walmart’s stock fell 6.5% despite stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, as its profit forecast fell short due to inflation and tariff concerns. Treasury yields edged lower amid rising unemployment claims, keeping the Federal Reserve cautious about interest rate cuts. Trump’s proposed tariffs and strong consumer spending could push inflation higher. In energy trading, U.S. crude added 32 cents to $72.57 a barrel, while Brent crude lost 4 cents to $76.44 a barrel. — news from The Associated Press
