Asian equities ended mostly higher Friday, with a rebound in crude-oil prices propping up energy stocks -- such as Inpex Holdings Inc. in Tokyo, Cnooc Ltd. in Hong Kong and Woodside Petroleum in Sydney -- across the region.
China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.9 percent to 3,369.91, while Hong Kong's blue chip Hang Seng Index dropped 1 percent to 24,123.25, as investors held back ahead of the release of U.S. employment data Friday.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 1.6 percent to 14,435.57
Toyota Motor Corp. gained 3.2 percent while rival Honda Motor Co. jumped 8.6 percent. Sony Corp. rose 2.8 percent.
India's Sensex tumbled 2.8 percent to 15,514.79 amid news that the government was raising fuel prices. India sets retail gasoline and cooking oil prices, and the hike is meant to help cut losses at state-run oil companies, which have been unable to pass on to consumers the surge in global crude prices.
Elsewhere:
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 1.1% to 5,592.10.
Taiwan's Weighted index rose 0.1% to 8,745.35.
Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.1% to 3,146.73 in late trading.
New Zealand's NZX 50 index slipped 0.2% to 3,548.08.
South Korean markets were closed for a holiday.
with files from other wire services
