Asia-Pacific stock markets were hit by profit-taking Friday, after a strong week in the region and a selloff in U.S. tech stocks overnight. Australia and South Korea led losses in the region, with the Kospi poised for its third decline in four sessions. The index SEU, -1.34% fell 1.4% as a 3.4% pullback in Samsung 005930, -3.86% eighed. Until this week, the Kospi had been a star in setting record closing highs for eight straight trading days through Monday.

European stocks ended modestly lower Thursday as investors sent shares of German lender Deutsche Bank AG down and those for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA's and Diageo higher amid a barrage of corporate quarterly results. The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, -0.11% closed down 0.1% at 382.32, but spent the session searching for firm direction, as did major national indexes. Basic material, industrial and consumer services shares led the way lower, but telecom, tech and utility stocks advanced.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record on Thursday driven by earnings-fueled gains in Verizon and Boeing, but the broader market finished in negative territory due to a firm slump in technology stocks. The Dow DJIA, +0.39% ended 85.54 points, or 0.4%, higher at 21,796.55, powered by a rally in shares of Boeing Co. and Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, +7.68%. Technology-weighted indexes, however took a beating.