Stocks in Asia were mixed on Friday, one day after shares on Wall Street jumped to new record highs overnight.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost ground, as shares of index heavyweight Fast Retailing fell 2%.
The Japanese yen traded at 109.50 against the U.S. dollar after an earlier high of 109.42.
Japanese retail sales data for November released on Friday came in worse than expected. Retail sales declined 2.1% in November as compared with a year earlier, government data showed. That was below a median market forecast for a 1.7% decline. The data follows a sales tax hike that went into effect in October.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index popped 361.21 points, or 1.3%, to 28.225.45, with shares of Chinese tech heavyweight Tencent surging around 1.9%.
Korean shares rose marginally, as shares of industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics surged 2%.
Shares in Australia rose after the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays. The Australian dollar was at $0.6948 after rising from levels below $0.693 yesterday.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 docked 3.96 points, or 0.1%, to 4,022.03
Recent market sentiment has been boosted since the U.S. and China announced they have reached a phase one trade agreement earlier in December. The two economic powerhouses are in the midst of translating the deal, with the aim of signing it in early January.
In a regular press briefing on Thursday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said China is in close touch with the U.S. on signing the initial trade pact. That came after U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday the deal is "getting done," adding there will be a signing ceremony with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex gained 90.58 points, or 0.8%, to 12,091.59
In Korea, the Kospi added 6.28 points, or 0.3%, to 2,204.21
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index eked up 3.54 points, or 0.1%, to 3,226.53
In New Zealand, the NZX deleted 40.66 points, or 0.4%, to 11,602.12
In Australia, the ASX 200 progressed 27.45 points, or 0.4%, to 6,794.20
