06:40 AM EDT, 09/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets followed overnight global equities markets lower, on concerns over rising interest rates and tech-sector profits.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the red, while other regional exchanges were mixed.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower on Wall Street cues and declined thereafter, finishing off 0.9% as traders also mulled a possible leadership change in the nation's ruling political party.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 371.60 to 41,938.89, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 148 to 73.

Leading the upside was drugmaker Eisai, up 3.5%, while Tokyo Electric Power declined 7%.

In economic news, Japan's final services purchasing managers index (PMI) declined modestly to 53.1 in August, down from July's five-month high of 53.6, but still well above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened higher but slipped midday, closing down 0.6%, as mainland China investors pulled in horns after recent bull moves.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 153.12 to 25,343.43, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 58 to 27. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.8% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 1%.

Leading the upside was Alibaba Health Information Technology, gaining 4.6%, while BYD Electronic International declined 5%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.2% to 3,813.56.

In economic news, the headline final China services purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 53.0 in August, up from 52.6 in July, reported S&P Global, citing its monthly survey.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.4%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.4%; the Australian ASX 200 declined 1.8%; the Singapore Straits Times Index fell 0.2%, and the Thai Set inclined 0.8%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.6%