Japanese stocks broke their three-day losing streak on Friday, as the yen weakened against the dollar and before the country‘s general elections this weekend.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 arrested its slide, gaining 114.18 points, or 0.7%, to 17,371.58, after two days of losses totaling more than 550 points. For the week, the Nikkei tumbled 3.1%.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index lost another 63.34 points, or 0.3%, to 23,249.20, after various reports said China’s central government has decided to lower its economic growth target for next year at the just-concluded Central Economic Work Conference.
Meanwhile, the yen dropped against the dollar to ¥118.73, from ¥118.16 in New York Thursday afternoon.
Japan is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on Sunday, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party widely tipped to win.
CHINA
Shanghai’s CSI 300 index inched up 10.22 points, or 0.3%, to 3,193.23
On Friday, a raft of Chinese economic data for November showed a mixed picture for the Chinese economy. Retail sales showed a modest improvement, while industrial output rose less than expected.
In other markets;
Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 5.43 points, or 0.2%, to 3,324.13
The Taiex index in Taiwan regained 14.26 points, or 0.2%, to 9,027.33
Korea’s Kospi index eked up 5.12 points, or 0.3%, to 1,921.71
New Zealand’s Exchange 50 restored 12.89 points, or 0.2%, to 5,514/95
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 moved lower 11.40 points, or 0.2%, to 5,219.57
