Asian markets stutter as traders eye Fed move, Delta spread

HONG KONG (AFP): Asian markets drifted Friday (Aug 13) as a broadly positive week drew to a close with investors pricing in the likelihood that Federal Reserve officials will start withdrawing the vast financial support put in place at the start of the pandemic.

The fast-spreading Delta virus variant, which is forcing governments to introduce containment measures, and the Chinese government's campaign to tighten its grip on the world's number two economy were also playing on sentiment.