05:51 AM EST, 11/14/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets tracked lower Thursday on weakness in tech stocks and on concerns that the Beijing economic stimulus programs are lacking.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the red, as did most other regional exchanges.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher but lost ground, finishing off 0.5% as a softer yen boosted export issues, but weak tech issues undercut overall gains.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 185.96 to 38, 535.70 as losing issues outnumbered gainers 138 to 85.

Leading the upside was Sumitomo Electric Industries, up 6.5%, while Kansai Electric Power declined 18.5% after a secondary stock offering.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and declined, finishing off 2% on the outlook for Beijing economic stimulus, and that the pending Trump Administration could increase trade tensions.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 387.64 to 19,435.81, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 78 to four. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 3.1% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 3.6%.

Leading the thin upside was Hansoh Pharmaceutical, gaining 0.7%, while Wuxi AppTec declined 8.1%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.7% to 3,379.84.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.1%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.6%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.4%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.5%, and the Thai Set declined 0.1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.1%.