Stocks ended mixed to higher across Asia Friday, though gains were pared in late trading as investors switched their focus to the U.S. jobs report.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index added 73.73 points, or 0.43 percent, to finish at 17,164.04 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 40.29 points, or 0.2 percent, to 19,134.88.
Japanese tech stocks rallied on news that machinery orders, excluding volatile orders for ships and utilities, climbed a seasonally adjusted 3.9 percent on month in January, suggesting continued capital investment. That figure exceeded the 0.7 percent gain forecast by economists, and was the highest since a 6.7 percent rise in last August.
Gainers included Advanced Corp., which surged 2.48 percent to 5,380 yen (US$45.98) and Toshiba Corp., which leapt 2.53 percent to 769 yen ($6.57).
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares fell just 0.1 percent at 671.17 in very thin trade, as comments by new Finance Minister Chalongphob failed to inspire buying.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares ended down 0.4 percent at 1,764.58, down from earlier high of 1,784.05, as investors realized gains after main index rose 4 percent in previous three sessions.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose 0.1 percent at 1,188.83 in moderate trade, down from intraday high of 1201.45 as pre-weekend profit-taking cuts earlier gains that were result of bottom fishing.
MANILA: Philippine shares surged, boosted by better-than-expected January exports data and overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index leapt 71.45 points, or 2.4 percent, to 3,099.82.
SEOUL: South Korean shares barely fell, snapping three straight gains amid losses in banks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.31 point, marginal in percentage terms, to 1,423.58.
SHANGHAI: Chinese shares ended mixed, with strong buying of heavyweight banks by funds, though the gains were offset by declines in the auto sector. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.3 percent to 2,937.91. The Shenzhen Composite Index slipped 0.4 percent to 760.56.
SINGAPORE: Singaporean shares closed modestly higher, with gains led by property stocks. The benchmark Straits Times index closed up 21.22 points, or 0.7 percent, at 3,143.71.
TAIPEI: Taiwanese shares edged down slightly, with traders cashing gains in technology companies. The Weighted Price Index of the Taipei Stock Exchange slipped 5.67 points, or 0.07 percent, to 7,568.20.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks rose slightly as confidence began to return after the recent global volatility and turmoil. The benchmark NZX-50 index rose 10.56 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,079.97.
SYDNEY: Australian shares rose slightly as caution before U.S. employment data and a public holiday in Victoria state Monday kept a lid on trading activity. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 7.9 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 5,830.2.
With files from wire services
