Asian markets were mixed in volatile trading Friday, with shares in Tokyo falling as the yen's strength against the U.S. dollar hurt exporters such as Honda Motor Co. and Nintendo Co.
In Tokyo, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 1.2 percent to 15,583.42, after rising as high as 15,834.97 earlier in the day. The broader Topix index dropped 1.5 percent at 1,494.35.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 0.15 to 28,783.41, after gyrating between 28,408.53 and 29,249.95. The 43-issue Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 0.1 percent at 17,704.08, tracking share movement in Shanghai.
In Sydney, shares of mining giant Rio Tinto climbed 15.4 percent on news that it has spurned a $110 billion approach from BHP Billiton, deeming the offer inadequate. Shares of BHP fell 1.8 percent.
Shares of Woodside Petroleum added 2.9 percent on high oil prices, while National Australia Bank gained 2.9 percent after it reported a 18 percent increase in cash earnings from ongoing operations from a year ago, beating analyst estimates.
In Tokyo, shares of Honda Motor dropped 2.5 percent and Nintendo gave up 3.8 percent, as the yen continued to strengthen against the U.S. dollar and other major currencies.
Shares of Shinko Securities Co. fell 5.5 percent, in line with the broad market. The brokerage announced at the end of trading that its agreed a merger with Mizuho Securities, a unit of banking giant Mizuho Financial Group, is on track for completion in January.
ELSEWHERE:
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi gained 0.6 percent at 1,990.47.
SHANGHAI: China's Shanghai Composite slipped 0.3 percent to 5,315.54.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times Index dropped 2 percent to 3,599.67.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.4 percent to 6,545.70.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted Index rose 0.4 percent to 8,970.92.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index lost 1.2 percent at 4,134.77.
with files from other wire services
