Asian Shares Mixed As Tech Stocks Drag

Market Overview - Asian stocks ended mixed amid concerns about a potential AI-driven market bubble and signs of a weakening U.S. labor market [1] - Oil prices drifted lower after a recent gain, while China's Shanghai Composite index finished marginally lower as investors refocused on economic fundamentals [2] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng index surged 0.85% following the People's Bank of China's commitment to maintain an "appropriately loose" monetary policy [3] Company Performance - Sony Group shares increased by 3.7% after raising its profit outlook, while SoftBank Group and Tokyo Electron saw declines of 3.5% and 1.6% respectively [4] - In South Korea, the Kospi index rose 1.07%, driven by gains in auto and energy stocks, with Hyundai Motor and SK Innovation rising by 2.4% and 3.4% respectively [4] - Australian markets ended lower, with the S&P/ASX 200 dipping 0.22% as investors expressed concerns over high tech valuations, while Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 3.1% due to margin pressure warnings [5] Economic Indicators - New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.49% to a record high, reflecting positive market sentiment [6] - U.S. stocks ended mixed, with the Dow rising 1.2% to a record close amid expectations of an end to the government shutdown, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% [7] - A report indicated that private employers in the U.S. shed an average of 11,250 jobs per week in the four weeks ending October 25, signaling a deteriorating labor market [6]