Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend in the early deals on Friday after Wall Street largely finished with gains following the European Central Bank’s announcement to phase out its bond-buying stimulus. Upbeat US data bolstered sentiments. The Japanese market has pared initial strong gains and is modestly higher following the mostly positive cues from Wall Street and on a weaker yen. Investors turned cautious ahead of the Bank of Japan's monetary policy decision due later in the day. The central bank is widely expected to keep its benchmark lending rate unchanged at -0.1 percent, although it may tinker with other forms of stimulus. Among the other Asian markets, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and South Korea are lower. Bucking the trend, Taiwan is higher. The markets in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are closed in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Hang Seng dropped 40.25 points or 0.13% to 30,399.92, Shanghai Composite declined 27.59 points or 0.91% to 3,016.57, and KOSPI Index down by 12.18 points or 0.5% to 2,411.30.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 gained 91.24 points or 0.4% to 22,829.85, and Taiwan Weighted up by 17.31 points or 0.16% to 11,031.29.
