Markets in Asia were lower across the board on Friday, while traders digested data showing China's home prices climbed and as a typhoon shut down the Hong Kong market and caused casualties and destruction in the Philippines and an earthquake struck Japan.
The Nikkei 225 Index docked 50.91 points, or 0.3%, to 17,184.59, following reports of a magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck western Japan. Reports said a tsunami warning was not issued.
Markets in Hong Kong were cancelled due to the typhoon.
The yen, considered a safe haven, climbed after the reports, trading as high as 103.75 against the U.S. dollar, compared with an earlier low of 104.20. As of late afternoon, the dollar/yen pair traded at 103.89.
In Japan, Mitsubishi Motors led gainers, rising 5.2%. On Thursday, Nissan announced it had completed the acquisition of a 34% controlling stake in Mitsubishi. Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn told the media on Friday that Nissan would support Mitsubishi's recovery efforts from a major scandal earlier this year.
Nissan shares closed up 0.6%, while Honda gave up its nearly 0.7% gain to finish flat. Suzuki Motor climbed 2%.Toyota shares slipped 1.1%
Japanese game maker Nintendo saw its shares drop 6.6% on Friday, despite revealing some details about its new gaming console, the Nintendo Switch, in a three-minute trailer on Thursday night local time. The console would be available from March 2017, according to the company.
Among other currency majors, the Australian dollar traded at $0.7645, after sliding from levels above $0.7700 on Thursday, as the September employment report sharply missed expectations.
CHINA
The CSI 300 gained 9.14 points, or 0.3%, to 3,327.84
Government data showed property prices in China rose at the fastest pace on record in September, which prompted fears of a market bubble in the country. Reuters calculation of data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed property prices shot up 11.2% on-year in September in 70 major cities.
Among mainland-listed property stocks, Vanke dropped 2.7%. Concerns about rising housing prices could spur authorities to take fresh cooling measures.
The on-shore Chinese yuan traded at 6.7565 against the U.S. dollar in the afternoon, the mainland currency's lowest levels since 2010.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi shed 7.6 points, or 0.4%, to 2,033
The Straits Times Index in Singapore subtracted 11.56 points, or 0.4%, to 2,831.06
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index lost 10.67 points, or 0.1%, to 9,306.57
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slid 15.38 points, or 0.2%, to 6,958.40
In Australia, the ASX 200 skidded 11.83 points, or 0.2%, to 5,430.32
