Chinese stocks closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.33 percent to 4,079.9 points.
The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.69 percent lower at 14,940.30 points.
The combined turnover of the two indices totaled 2.64 trillion yuan (about 384.7 billion U.S. dollars), down from 2.8 trillion yuan on the previous trading day.
Energy metals, salt-lake lithium extraction, and agrochemical product sectors led the gains, while oil and gas extraction and services, China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited related shares, and power sectors were among the top decliners.
The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, lost 1.41 percent to close at 3,667.79 points Friday.
The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, closed 0.8 percent higher at 1,855.33 points.
Chinese shares close lower Friday
Japan's core consumer price index (CPI) rose to 112.1 in March, marking the 55th straight month of increase year on year, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on Friday.
Comparing with March 2025, the country's core CPI climbed 1.8 percent, surpassing February's 1.6 percent rise.
On a monthly basis, the index increased 0.5 percent in March, reversing a 0.3 percent decline recorded in February.
Rising food prices remained the primary driver of inflation, with coffee bean prices surging 54 percent year on year and ordinary rice prices climbing 6.4 percent.
Mobile phone communication fees jumped 11.1 percent, while hotel accommodation costs rose 5 percent.
Electricity bills fell 8 percent in March, thanks to government price subsidies.
As prices continue to climb, a growing number of Japanese consumers expect the inflationary trend to persist.
A recent Bank of Japan survey showed that consumers expect prices to be 10.3 percent higher on average in five years - the highest level since the survey began in 2006.
Japan's core CPI up for 55th consecutive month
