Asian equity indices are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Friday. The stock markets in some of the regions rose tracking cues from Wall Street where the Dow moved past the 17,000 mark for the first time overnight, lifted by better than expected jobs data. However, gains are just modest in most markets in the region, with investors treading a bit cautiously and taking some profits ahead of the weekend. Worries about the escalating violence in Iraq and Ukraine also weighed on the market sentiments. The Japanese market rose after the yen weakened yesterday as growth in US payrolls beat estimates. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Singapore and Indonesia are modestly higher. Hong Kong is up marginally. Shanghai, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are trading weak.
Nikkei soared 83.04 points or 0.54% to 15,431.33, Hang Seng gained 4.40 points or 0.02% to 23,535.84, Straits Times increased by 6.93 points or 0.21% to 3,280.08 and Jakarta Composite was up by 14.81 points or 0.30% to 4,903.55.
On the flip side, KOSPI Index slipped 0.27 points or 0.01% to 2,010.70, Shanghai Composite dropped by 6.77 points or 0.33% to 2,056.45, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI contracted by 1.29 points or 0.07% to 1,887.40 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 4.17 points or 0.04% to 9,522.06.