Asian markets were mostly higher after Japan's inflation data showed improvement and markets stateside clocked new record highs, even as threats of a trade war with Mexico brew.
The Nikkei 225 Index advanced 65.01 points, or 0.3%, to end the week at 19,467.40, after data showed that Japan's December core consumer prices fell 0.2 percent year-on-year, at its slowest pace since February
Hong Kong's Hang Seng which was trading for just half a day, was nearly flat, down 0.1% at 23,360.78.
A social media war of words between Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto led to a canceled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump over a border wall and trade relations hit the Mexican peso overnight.
Toshiba shares were up 1% after the company said it will split off its memory chip business by end March and seek outside investment in it.
The Japanese conglomerate also said it would unveil the size of the write down charge related to its Westinghouse nuclear business, on Feb. 14 when it reports its third-quarter results.
The yen weakened against the U.S. dollar to trade at 114.91, while the Australian dollar was steady at $0.7528.
In other markets
Markets in Shanghai, Taiwan, Singapore and Korea were shuttered for holiday
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 added 22.42 points, or 0.3%, to 7,113.33
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 returned after holiday with a gain of 42.48 points, or 0.8%, to 5,713.99
