Asian stocks, European shares decline

Gulf Today Report

Asian stocks fell on Friday on hope for economic stimulus and coronavirus cases outweighing vaccine development. 

Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong retreated.

The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost 0.2% to 26,760.30 while the Shanghai Composite Index was down less than 0.1% at 3,403.87. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 0.7% to 26,490.37.

The Kospi in Seoul lost less than 0.1% to 2,770.22 and Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 sank 0.7% to 6,710.00. New Zealand, Singapore and Jakarta also retreated. 

Investors await US legislators to agree on aid.  

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UK records a fall in retail sales

Oil declines as COVID-19 cases soar

European shares

European shares fell on Friday as doubts over post-Brexit trade hang over investors and US-China tension limits gain. 

The pan-European STOXX 600 index slipped 0.2% by 08:08 GMT, easing from a near 10-month high hit in the previous session, while the German DAX and France's CAC 40 also lost about 0.2% each.

The UK’s exporter-heavy index recorded loss following a decline in the pound due to Brexit trade talk remaining static. 

Travel and leisure led the decline in trading with British Airways declining by 1.0%.