Hong Kong shares on Friday got a late boost after mainland China's foreign exchange regulator issued a draft proposal to raise the investment quota for foreign investors in local securities.
The Hang Seng Index ended up 2.8% at 20318.62 to reclaim the 20,000-point milestone, with banking and property stocks rising sharply. Still, some analysts weren't enthused much by the news.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index, meanwhile, slipped 27.53 points, or 0.3 percent, to 10,187.11.
In Tokyo, Elpida Memory tumbled 8.3%, stretching its losses to a third session, amid worries about its plans to raise capital.
Daiwa Securities slid 6.1% on news the company is close to ending a joint venture with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. dropped 2.1%. A person close to the matter told Dow Jones Newswires that the two are in final talks to dissolve their partnership in Daiwa Securities SMBC. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group said it was in talks with Daiwa, but nothing had been decided.
In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite index climbed 6.03 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,851.56, after surging 4.8 percent Thursday.
ELSEWHERE:
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index advanced 7.3 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,436.9.
South Korea's Kospi slid 0.3 percent to 1,608.90.
New Zealand's NZX 50 added 0.2%.
Taiwan's Taiex rose 0.7%.
Philippines' main share index advanced 1%.
