BANGKOK — Asian shares followed Wall Street and Europe lower on Friday, with markets jittery over the risk that the Federal Reserve and other central banks may end up bringing on recessions to get inflation under control.
Oil prices and U.S. futures edged higher.
China’s move to relax COVID restrictions has raised hopes for an end to massive disruptions from lockdowns and other strict measures to prevent infections. But signs of sharply rising case numbers have raised uncertainty, with some alarmed over the possibility that the pandemic will continue to drag on the economy.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged 0.1% higher to 19,395.84, while the Shanghai Composite index shed 0.4% to 3,157.58.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 lost 2% to 27,498.14 after a survey of manufacturers showed a further contraction in output.
The preliminary reading of a factory purchasing manager’s index put manufacturing at…
