Asian stocks plunged Friday after discouraging U.S. economic reports unnerved investors already worried about the stability of the 17-country eurozone.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 plummeted 2.4 percent to 8,660.23, as a strengthening yen battered the country’s behemoth export sector.
South Korea’s Kospi fell 2.5 percent to 1,798.36. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan, mainland China and New Zealand also fell.
U.S. stocks closed lower Thursday after a report showed manufacturing slowed in the mid—Atlantic region for the first time in eight months, to minus 5.8 from 8.5 in April.
Readings below zero indicates contraction.