Asian markets retreat as trade worries weigh

Asian markets dipped lower in early Friday trading, as the Dow posted its eighth straight decline and trade tensions between the U.S. and China remained high.

In Japan, the Nikkei












NIK, -1.14%










  was down 0.8%, as the yen rebounded overnight with the dollar












USDJPY, -0.01%










  again slightly below ¥110. Automakers led the losses, with Toyota












7203, -3.18%










  and Honda












7267, -2.52%










  each down more than 2%

Korea’s Kospi












SEU, +0.05%










  swung between slight gains and losses, with Samsung Electronics












005930, -0.64%










  dropping 0.6%.

Hong Kong stocks












HSI, -0.34%










 opened solidly lower, with Tencent












0700, -0.45%










  down another 0.5%, putting the week’s losses above 4%. Chinese equities continued to slide, and the Shanghai Composite












SHCOMP, +0.35%










  was poised to end the day in bear-market territory.

After two days of gains, Taiwan stocks












Y9999, -0.36%










  fell in early trade with, with lens maker Largan












3008, -2.22%










  pulling back 2%. Stocks were also down in Singapore












STI, -0.37%










  and Malaysia












FBMKLCI, -0.32%










 . Markets in Australia












XJO, -0.15%










  and New Zealand












NZ50GR, -0.12%










  retreated from recent highs.