Asian stocks traded a bit shaky on Friday, with regional markets losing momentum as the afternoon drew to a close after paring sharp losses early in session.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index fell 116.24 points, or 0.69 percent, to finish at 16,744.15 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 15.94 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,953.50.
Traders said investors remained cautious before the release of U.S. consumer price index data for February, due later Friday. The CPI data is regarded as a key gauge of the U.S. economy, Japan's largest export market.
Losers included Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., which plunged 2.96 percent, and JFE Holdings Inc., which slid 2.49 percent.
Mazda Motor Corp. tumbled 4.88 percent after U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs removed it from its strongly-buy recommendation list due mainly to a rise in U.S. inventories from excess CX-7 sport-utility vehicles.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares slipped 0.5 percent to 671.05 points in light trade on profit taking in blue chips.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rose 0.6 percent in thin trading to close at 1,786.44 points, amid buying in mining blue chips.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares climbed as local funds propped up select blue chips in the construction and finance sectors. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips rose 0.2 percent to 1,182.20 points.
MANILA: Philippine shares rebounded on bargain hunting in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. following two sessions of losses. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 18.64 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3,062.25.
MUMBAI: Indian shares moved down, led by banks and cement stocks after official data showed an increase in the country's inflation, raising concerns of further monetary tightening by the central bank. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, dropped 113.45 points, or 0.9 percent, to 12,430.40.
SEOUL: South Korean shares inched up as strong gains in oil refiner SK Corp., Hyundai Merchant Marine and its affiliate Hyundai Securities were offset by hefty profit-taking. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, climbed 0.95 point, or 0.1 percent, to 1,427.88.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks fell as economic data and official comments spurred speculation authorities might move soon to tighten credit. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.7 percent to 2,930.48. The Shenzhen Composite Index plunged 1.4 percent to 774.77.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares fell in a continuing market correction, and traders expect the slide to continue. The benchmark Straits Times Index fell 25.9 points, or 0.8 percent, to 3,068.75.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose slightly, boosted by favorable Chinese comments on ties with the island. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 23.84 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,719.80.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares drifted down as cautious Asian and Australian investors failed to draw comfort from a recovery on Wall Street. The NZSX-50 index dropped 16.6 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,037.59.
SYDNEY: Australian shares fell amid profit-taking, with some analysts concerned about the U.S. economy after worse-than-expected economic data this week. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index slipped 16.7 points, or 0.3 percent, to 5,836.30.
With files from wire services
