Most of the Asian equity benchmarks are trading higher in the early deals on Friday despite the disappointing Chinese trade data dented already bleak investor sentiment following US President-elect's Donald Trump's news conference. Customs data showed that Chinese exports sank 6.1 percent in December from a year earlier. In November, China's exports eked out a 0.1 percent expansion after shrinking for nine straight months. Imports rose 3.1 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the Japanese market is advancing, with a weaker yen lifting investor sentiment. Shares of airbag maker Takata surged following a media report that the company was nearing a deal with US regulators to settle a criminal probe. Among the other Asian markets, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Taiwan are in positive territory. Bucking the trend, Taiwan, South Korea, and Malaysia are lower.
Nikkei 225 added 130.53 points or 0.68% to 19,265.23, Hang Seng gained 103.45 points or 0.45% to 22,932.47, Shanghai Composite rose 3.64 points or 0.12% to 3,122.93, Straits Times increased 15.84 points or 0.53% to 3,008.84 and Jakarta Composite was up by 1.52 points or 0.03% to 5,294.27.
On the flip side, Taiwan Weighted dipped 41.38 points or 0.44% to 9,368.80, KOSPI Index declined 11.54 points or 0.55% to 2,075.60 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was down by 3.33 points or 0.20% to 1,674.43.