Indexes in Sydney and Shanghai ended at record highs Friday, while shares in Hong Kong, Singapore and Mumbai touched lifetime highs during the session, as recent sharp gains meant that the region remained volatile due to profit taking pressures.
In Tokyo, the main Nikkei 225 index fell 0.3 percent to 16,785.69 points. The retreat came after a 3.2 percent gain the index the last three days.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong shares surged to a record close for a second straight session led by insurer China Life and oil company CNOOC. The blue chip Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 percent to 27,142.47, off an intraday record high of 27,254.97.
Traders said liquidity in Asia will likely remain buoyant in the near future, which could help Hong Kong's benchmark index to scale new heights next week.
China Life rose 3.4 percent to end at a record HK$44.65.
Chinese oil companies also soared, after front-month benchmark crude futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose back above US$83 in Asian trade.
ELSEWHERE:
BANGKOK: Thailand's main stock index gained 0.3 percent to 845.50 on renewed strength in energy stocks after oil topped US$83 a barrel.
JAKARTA: Indonesia's main index for the Jakarta stock exchange fell 0.82 percent to close at 2,359.21.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur composite index gained 0.64 points to 1,336.30.
MANILA: Philippine shares dipped Friday as investors pocketed gains from this week's rally. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange dropped 0.1 percent at 3,572.90. The index had advancing 8.7 percent in six out of the past seven sessions.
MUMBAI: Indian shares ended at a record high for the eighth straight session Friday, led by strong gains in power utility Reliance Energy Ltd. and steelmaker Tata Steel Ltd. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share Sensex index gained 0.8 percent to close at 17,291 points.
SEOUL: South Korea's main Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.06 percent to 1,946.48.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index fell 0.2 percent to 3,706.23 due to profit-taking after Thursday's record close.
SYDNEY: Australia's main stock benchmark rose 0.45 percent to 6,567.8.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares closed flat Friday after early gains were erased by a wave of selling in the food and cement sectors. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange fell just 0.02 percent to end at 9411.95. The drop broke a string of five consecutive sessions of gains.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index fell 0.16 percent to 4,268.90.
with files from other wire services
