Asia Stocks Fall as Japan Steadies Ahead of Elections and Australia Slips on Hawkish RBA

Asia stocks weakened notably on Friday as investors grappled with global market pressures and local economic signals. Most regional markets declined after Wall Street’s recent tech-led sell-off set a risk-off tone. Despite some resilience in Japan ahead of its election, Asian markets broadly reflected worry over slowing growth, central bank policies, and global economic shifts. These moves show how deeply connected markets are and how investor sentiment can shift quickly when key indicators change.