India, Jan. 22 -- Asian stocks fell broadly on Friday due to profit taking at record highs. Optimism about ramped up efforts to combat the coronavirus and expectations for more stimulus under the new Biden administration have helped to prop up the markets in recent days.

China's Shanghai Composite Index slid 14.51 points, or 0.4 percent, to 3,606.75 amid concerns over a resurgence of coronavirus infections in the country. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index tumbled 479.91 points, or 1.6 percent, to 29,447.85.

Japanese shares slipped from a 30-year high as the dollar nursed a weekly loss and a survey showed the manufacturing sector in the country slipped into contraction in December, with a PMI score of 49.7.

Another report showed that overall ...