Most of the Asian markets are trading higher in the early deals on Friday as investors are cautious following a weak U.S. jobless claims data. Geopolitical concerns and the overnight flat close on Wall Street also appear to be contributing to the somewhat sluggish movements in most of the markets in the region. The Japanese stock market is trading modestly higher with exporters leading the gains on the yen's weakness. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Shanghai, Singapore and South Korea are trading higher, while Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong are weak.
Straits Times was surged 2.46 points or 0.07% to 3,349.74, Nikkei 225 strengthen by 64.85 points or 0.41% to 15,974.05, KOSPI Index increased by 8.37 points or 0.41% to 2,042.53, Jakarta Composite added by 8.26 points or 0.16% to 5,141.29 and Shanghai Composite was up by 3.58 points or 0.16% to 2,315.26.
On the flip side FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined by 2.23 points or 0.12% to 1,863.88, Hang Seng contracted by 93.48 points or 0.38% to 24,569.16. and Taiwan Weighted was down by 83.97 points or 0.90% to 9,234.14.