Japan's Nikkei share average fell on Friday, stepping back from two-month highs as investors locked in profits on recent gainers before a long weekend.
The Nikkei 225 index in Tokyo tailed off 23.76 points, or 0.2%, to end the week at 14,742.42
Recent gainers succumbed to profit-taking ahead of the long weekend, with the sea transport sector subindex shedding 2.1%- the worst sectoral performer. Japanese markets will shut on Monday for a national holiday.
Australian stocks declined Friday, with the benchmark easing from a five-year high reached during a rally in the previous session. Mining stocks gave back a portion of recent gains. Shares of BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Ltd. each lost 1.3%, and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. fell 2.4%.
But gold producer Newcrest Mining Ltd. outperformed the sector by rising 1%. Financial issues were mixed, with Westpac Banking Corp. down 0.5% while National Australia Bank Ltd. picked up 0.6%. The S&P/ASX 200 was facing a weekly advance of 1.5%, which would mark its sixth consecutive weekly gain.
In other markets;
Markets in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shanghai were closed for holidays
The Singapore Straits Times Index dropped 14.25 points, or 0.4%, to 3,237.53
In New Zealand, the Exchange 50 Gross Index subtracted 22.66 points, or 0.5%, to 4,730.38
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 slid 18.86 points, or 0.4%, to 5,276.69
