Asia stocks fall as delta variant worries take center stage

Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.7% to 27,082.20 and Seoul’s Kospi fell 0.6% to 3,078.71. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong slipped 1.5% to 24,936.15.

The Shanghai Composite Index gave up 1.2% to 3,423.08. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added under 0.1% to 7,467.10, however. Benchmarks in Singapore and Indonesia rose while New Zealand’s fell.

Traders are watching mounting infections around the world, including in New Zealand, which is in lockdown after reporting its first outbreak in six months.

“With the number of COVID-19 infections on the rise, especially in the U.S., the threat from the delta variant is becoming more apparent spurring cautious risk sentiment,” said Venkateswaran Lavanya of Mizuho Bank.

Wall Street closed out another choppy day of trading on Thursday. The benchmark S&P 500 started the day in the red before gaining 0.1% to 4,405.80.