Asian equity indices are exhibiting mixed trade in early deals on Friday, with investors treading cautiously ahead of the crucial US monthly jobs data, due later in the day. On the regional front, the Japanese stock market declined after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said policy makers will wait until next quarter to assess the need for more stimulus. A pause in the dollar's rise against the yen and the overnight flat close on Wall Street also contributed to the weakness in the market. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, Shanghai, South Korea and Taiwan are weak, while Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia are up in positive territory with modest gains.
Hang Seng soared 175.13 points or 0.73% to 24,007.69, Straits Times increased by 17.82 points or 0.54% to 3,322.64, Jakarta Composite surged by 16.57 points or 0.32% to 5,193.73 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was up by 2.44 points or 0.14% to 1,748.13.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 dropped by 9.88 points or 0.06% to 17,877.33, KOSPI Index dipped 0.81 points or 0.04% to 1,985.80, Shanghai Composite contracted by 18.18 points or 0.63% to 2,881.27 and Taiwan Weighted was down by 10.57 points or 0.11% to 9,214.54.