Asian markets were a mixed bag Friday, also ending the week on a similar note. After a roller-coaster ride, indexes in Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea ended firmly higher as resource stocks tracked a rebound in crude-oil prices. Japanese stocks declined on weakness in automobile and airline shares, also ending the week in the red.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 27.52 points, or 0.2 percent, to 13,039.69.
Top Japanese automaker and major exporter Toyota Motor Corp. ended 1.8 percent lower at 4,890 yen. Toyota said Thursday it would adjust its U.S. manufacturing operations to meet customers' demands for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles -- specifically its Prius hybrid model.
Japan mobile operator Softbank Corp. fell 0.7 percent to end at 1,958 yen despite a heavy dose of publicity as it launched exclusive sales of the iPhone in Japan. Chief rival NTT DoCoMo Inc. slid 3.6 percent to 161,000 yen.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 1.7% to 22,184.55, adding more than 3.5% during the week.
China's Shanghai Composite dropped 0.7% to 2,926.84, adding to Thursday's losses, but still ending the week with gains.
Elsewhere:
New Zealand's NZX 50 index rose 0.3% to 3,121.55.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.9% to 4,979.90, but finished the week in the red.
South Korea's Kospi jumped 2% to 1,567.51.
Singapore's Straits Times Index added 0.9% to 2,926.84.
Taiwan's Weighted index gained 2.4% to 7,244.76, with each index reversing direction at least once during the session.
with files from other wire services
