Asia markets dip, US rates in focus

HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly slipped on Friday but ended a volatile week in relative calm after China unveiled a series of steps to shore up its economy and reassure investors, but fears of a US interest rate hike kept nerves on edge.

Higher-yielding, or riskier, currencies such as the Malaysian ringgit and South Korean won benefited from a more upbeat outlook, which followed a positive lead from Wall Street, while the Australian dollar edged higher.