Asia close: Widespread selling as conflict in Ukraine escalates

Stocks across the Asia-Pacific region fell back as the conflict in Ukraine escalated.

Japan's Nikkei fared especially poorly, with the Nikkei-225 retreating 1.96% to 1,435.57.

China's Shanghai Composite index also finished lower, surrendering 1.0% to finish the day at 3,447.65, while the Shenzhen Composite Index fell 1.3% to 2,264.64.

Worth noting, investors in China were also looking to the National People's Congress that was due to start at the weekend, where Beijing was expected to roll out additional fiscal measures to support its economy.

The South Korean Kospi meanwhile dropped 1.2% to 2,713.43.

New Zealand's NZX-50 ceded 0.6% to 12,141.77 but was 1.8% higher for the week on the back of gains for defensive heavyweight Meridian Energy.