MANILA – Asian shares skidded Friday following a retreat on Wall Street driven by concerns over banks’ loan portfolios.

U.S. futures and oil prices also fell, while the price of gold climbed to over $4,383 an ounce as Washington and Beijing swapped harsh words over trade.

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Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.3% to 47,646.31, tracking U.S. losses. Uncertainty over the choice of a new prime minister has also weighed on investor sentiment.

Conservative lawmaker Sanae Takaichi was elected to head the ruling Liberal Democratic Party but last week's collapse of its coalition with the Buddhist-backed Komeito cast doubt over whether she would garner enough support in the lower house of parliament to prevail in a vote expected next week.

Takaichi has led efforts to form a new al

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