Asia opens lower on feared Hong Kong flare-ups

Asian stock indices opened the fifth session of the week lower on concerns of renewed Hong Kong protests after China's Parliament passed new laws that imposed more restrictions and bans on many perceived-as-rebellious activities in Hong Kong.

Earlier Japanese data showed consumer prices rose 0.1% compared to a 0.4$ rise in March, while core prices fell 0.2%. 

Bank of Japan held an emergency meeting on May 22, maintaining rates at negative 10% as expected while also maintaining 10-year government bond yield targets at zero. 

The BoJ has launched a new lending program to support medium and small countries suffering from the Covid 19 hit. 

The Bank will also accelerate purchases of 6-month corporate bonds until the end of the year, with total measures taking against Covid 19 amounting to 75 trillion yen so far. 

According to World Health Organization data, cases of the Covid 19 reached 5.107 million worldwide, with the death toll standing at 333,000. 

Japan's TOPEX fell 0.50%, while Nikkei 225 shed 0.44% to 20,462. 

China's CSI 300 fell 1.5% to 3,855, while Shanghai shed 1.22% to 2,833. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng tumbled 3.70%, while South Korea's KOSPI tumbled 1.52% to 1,967. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 fell 0.38%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.62% to 5,516.