Most of the Asian stock markets are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Friday amid signs of growth in the world’s largest economies. On the regional front, Japanese stocks surged higher on the account of a weaker yen triggering some strong buying at several counters and US factory data signaled strength in the world’s largest economy. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan are trading higher, while South Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Shanghai are trading lower.
Jakarta Composite increased 4.47 points or 0.09% to 4,974.35, Nikkei 225 surged by 152.34 points or 1.06% to 14,490.13, Straits Times rose by 7.18 points or 0.22% to 3,272.84 and Taiwan Weighted was up by 24.52 points or 0.27% to 8,994.15.
On the flip side, Shanghai Composite declined 0.67 points or 0.03% to 2,020.62, Hang Seng tumbled by 15.85 points or 0.07% to 22,937.91, KLSE Composite decreased 1.90 points or 0.10% to 1,873.22 and Seoul Composite was down by 0.64 points or 0.03% to 2,014.95.