Most Asian markets advanced on Friday as strong U.S. economic data aided relief-buying after a string of recent losses, although trading was thin on concerns about the euro zone crisis and ahead of the weekend.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index restored 24.35 points, or 0.3%, to 8,401.72
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index gained back 258.55 points, or 1.4%, to 18,285.40
U.S. stocks rose Thursday, supported by encouraging jobs and manufacturing data, although the gains were limited by a fresh warning about debt-stricken Europe.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde called the global economic outlook "quite gloomy" and urged international help in resolving Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis.
In Seoul, Hyundai Motor Co. added 2.5% and Kia Motors Corp. gained 2.3%.
Shares of Sony Corp. rose 1.1% in Tokyo, following news of brisk pre-orders for the company’s PlayStation Vita video-game system, and shrugging off a downgrade by Fitch to BBB-.
Olympus Corp. fell 3.5% -- and is now down more than 60% over the past year -- on concern the scandal-plagued firm may have to raise capital.
In Hong Kong trading, Prada SpA added 2.6%, and luggage maker Samsonite International SA climbed 5.9%.
Sydney-listed shares of JB Hi-Fi Ltd. slumped 15.3% after the electronics retailer issued a profit warning late Thursday.
Elsewhere in the Australian retail sector, Myer Holdings Ltd. sank 2.6%, and department-store chain David Jones Ltd. shed 0.4
CHINA
Stocks on the mainland ended a week-long losing streak.
Shanghai’s CSI 300 index moved upwards 49.34 points, or 2.1%, to 2,390.13
Shares of Chinese property developers jumped, amid expectations of policy easing by Beijing. China Resources Land Ltd. rose 9.1% and China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. climbed 5.4%; in Shanghai, Poly Real Estate Group Co. shed 5.3%, while China Vanke Co. climbed 3.1% in Shenzhen.
Several commodity-tied stocks also advanced in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd., or Chalco advanced 2.4% and Jiangxi Copper Co. jumped 4.1%; in Shanghai, Chalco rose 0.9% and Jiangxi gained 2.8%.
In other markets;
Taiwan’s Taiex Index picked up 20.50 points, or 0.3%, to 6,785.09
Korea’s Kospi Index added 20.85 points, or 1.2%, to 1,839.96
Singapore’s Straits Times Index strengthened 23.97 points, or 0.9%, to 2,659.22
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index dropped 17.85 points, or 0.6%, to 3,245.34
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 19.40 points, or 0.5%, to 4,159.20
