Asia markets were positive on Friday, amid a lack of cues from U.S. markets, which were shut Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Index gained 47.81 points, or 0.3%, to end the week at 18,381.22
The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong regained 114.96 points, or 0.5%, to 22,723.45
The U.S. dollar was fetching 113.4 yen as of late afternoon, a nearly eight-month high. A weaker yen usually supports exporters as it makes overseas earnings appear more attractive when they are repatriated and it can make export pricing more competitive overseas.
On Friday, government data showed that core consumer prices fell 0.4% in October on-year, in line with expectations of economists.
It was the eight straight month of annual declines in core consumer prices, and will likely turn up the heat on policymakers to introduce more stimulus.
Australian markets were up, but the benchmark's gains were capped by the all ordinaries gold sub-index, which was down by 2.1%.
BHP Billiton climbed 2.3% A$26.50 a share. The Australian miner announced early Friday it had approved $181 million U.S. to fund the compensation programs at its Samarco joint venture in Brazil.
Explorer Top End Minerals surged 121.4% to $0.062 a share, after it announced it acquired a 60% interest in Myanmar's Cornerstone Resources.
The Australian dollar was steady at $0.7443 against the U.S. dollar Friday afternoon, compared with levels below $0.735 last week.
CHINA
The CSI 300 in Shanghai added 32.56 points, or 0.9%, to 3,521.30
The People's Bank of China set the yuan mid-point fix at 6.9168 against the U.S. dollar, compared with the currency pair's last close at 6.918. The dollar/yuan was trading at 6.9153 as of late afternoon at a nearly eight-month low.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi slid 3.2 points, or 0.2%, at 1,974.46
The Straits Times Index in Singapore gained 15.61 points, or 0.6%, to 2,859.37
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index restored 6.96 points, or 0.1%, to 9,159.07
The NZX 50 closed up 16.37 points, or 0.2%, at 6,899.62
Australia's benchmark ASX 200 bettered itself by 22.71 points, or 0.4%, at 5,507.79
