Tokyo Nikkei 225 down 0.82%, S&P ASX 200 down 0.30% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Tokyo , 27 Jun - Asian shares closed mostly lower, halting a two-day rebound and extending recent losses.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.7%. The regional index rose 0.9% last week to its highest level since April 2022 and was on track for a nearly 4% monthly surge in June.

In Asian stock market dealings technology stocks weighed as they retreated from yesterday's rally and tracked weakness in US stock index futures following disappointing guidance from chipmaking major Micron, that sparked some doubts over the recent artificial intelligence-driven boom.

In Australian dealings rate-sensitive stocks dipped after hotter-than-expected inflation data released yesterday ramped up concerns over higher interest rates at the Reserve Bank of Australia's policy meeting in August.

RBA governor Michelle Bullock recently revealed the central bank discussed hiking rates at its last meeting.

Chinese stocks also dropped as data showed growth in the country's industrial profits narrowed in May.

On the currency front, the Japanese yen weakened to a near 38-year low, dropping to 160.82 against the dollar.

Traders looked ahead to the first US presidential debate tomorrow and the first round of voting in the French election next weekend.

The Nikkei index closed down 0.82% at 39,341 points, in Sydney the S&P ASX 200 closed down 0.30% at 7,759 points, while in Seoul the KOSPI closed down 0.30% at 2,783 points.

The Shanghai Composite index was down 0.69% at 2,952 points and the Hong Kong Hang Seng index was down 2.14% at 17,700 points. In Mumbai the Sensex index was up 0.32% at 78,923 points.

AAA-Ver

(RADIOCOR) 27-06-24 09:35:09 (0192) 5 NNNN