Asian stock markets fall

Asian stock markets fell after the latest report showing slowing job growth in March. Asia-Pacific markets fell broadly on Thursday as Wall Street weighed on the latest report showing slowing job growth in March. India’s central bank is also expected to raise its buyback rate by 25 basis points to 6.75%, economists say. Japan’s Nikkei 225 led the region’s losses, falling 1.08% and the Topix down 0.91%. Elsewhere, South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.7%, while the Kosdaq lost a smaller 0.69%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.26%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was marginally higher, while the Hang Seng Tech index was 0.49% lower. Both Australian and Hong Kong markets will be closed for a holiday on Friday and will finish their trading week on Thursday. In mainland China, both the Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Component Index rose marginally.