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Asian markets mixed on weak lead from Wall Street Japanese shares hit three-month high ahead of holiday
(about 5 hours later)
Asian markets traded mixed on Friday after taking a weak lead from Wall Street, where shares saw choppy trade as the prospect of higher interest rates gained momentum. Japanese shares hit a fresh three-month high on Friday, closing higher for the fourth fourth session in a row.
The Dow Jones and S&P 500 closed flat after several firms reported earnings that showed a mixed picture of the economy. The Nikkei 225 index reversed early losses to close 0.1% higher to 19,879.81.
The markets had been rallying this week on the Federal Reserve's hints that the US economy was strong enough to raise rates in December. This week's rise of 1.4% is the fifth week in a row of gains for the index. Japanese markets will be closed for a public holiday on Monday.
The Nikkei was down by 0.5% to 19,753.14 points. It was a choppy day's trading in Tokyo with early losses being attributed to a stronger yen.
The Japanese benchmark index retreated from the three-month highs hit on Thursday as the yen strengthened against the dollar.
A stronger yen is considered bad for Japanese exporters because it makes their goods more expensive to buy overseas.A stronger yen is considered bad for Japanese exporters because it makes their goods more expensive to buy overseas.
Chinese shares traded flat, with the Shanghai Composite at 3,617.34 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.2% to 22,448.61 points in early trade. Rest of Asia
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.4% to 5,265.40 despite China's slowing growth weighing on metal prices. The rest of Asia traded mixed on a weak lead from Wall Street, where shares saw choppy trade as the prospect of higher interest rates gained momentum.
South Korea's benchmark Kospi index gained 0.1% to 1,991.05. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 closed flat after many firms reported earnings that showed a mixed picture of the US economy.
The markets had been rallying this week on the Federal Reserve's hints that the US economy was strong enough to raise rates in December.
Chinese shares reversed earlier losses to head higher, with the Shanghai Composite up 0.5% to 3,635.86, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose by 0.2% to 22,544.56.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 0.3% to 5,256.1 - gaining 4% for the week, which is its second largest weekly increase in four years.
South Korea's benchmark Kospi index finished flat at 1,989.86 points despite positive comments from the government about the state of the economy.
The country's finance minister Choi Kyung-hwan said the government will maintain policies aimed at boosting domestic demand over the next year and they will help the economy achieve 3% growth or higher in 2016.The country's finance minister Choi Kyung-hwan said the government will maintain policies aimed at boosting domestic demand over the next year and they will help the economy achieve 3% growth or higher in 2016.