Asian markets were mostly higher Friday as markets awaited key U.S. jobs data, which will offer a key indicator of whether the Federal Reserve will pull the trigger in June.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 recovered 79.68 points, or 0.5%, to 16,642.23
The Japanese yen was also on investors' radar after the U.S. dollar-yen fell below 109 Thursday. The dollar-yen currency pair was trading at 108.75 U.S. Friday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained 88.02 points, or 0.4%, to 20,947.24
Shares of the heavily-weighed Fast Retailing surged up 6.9% after its apparel retail chain Uniqlo reported that within Japan, sales in May grew 5.9% from a year ago.
Japan also released April price-adjusted real wages which showed signs of wage increases slowing. Wage growth is key to Japan's government's efforts to drive private consumption and raise inflation.
A Markit/Nikkei survey of Japan's services sector showed that activity expanded in May, coming in at 50.3, compared with 49.3 in April on a seasonally adjusted basis
Shares of embattled commodities trader Noble Group tumbled as much as 13.3% to touch their lowest levels since 2003 on trade resumption after the company announced a fully underwritten rights issue.
The offering is aimed at raising about $400 million U.S. to "improve the group's financial flexibility," according to the company's statement.
CHINA
The CSI 300 Index tacked on 22.23 points, or 0.7%, to 3,189.33
Mainland Chinese markets erased early gains after the private Caixin Markit services purchasing managers' index (PMI) for May fell to 51.2 from 51.8 in April. Readings above 50 indicate an expansion on a monthly basis. The survey showed that new business and hiring in China's private sector slowed to a three-month low.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi Index added 0.73 points to 1,985.84
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index moved higher 14.14 points, or 0.5%, to 2,809.23
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index gained 31.34 points, or 0.4%, to 8,587.36
New Zealand’s NZX 50 reversed and moved higher 21.26 points, or 0.3%, to 7,024.38
The ASX 200 gained 40 points, or 0.8%, to 5,318.89
