Asian markets ended mixed Friday, with Hong Kong stocks getting a lift from bargain hunting in Cheung Kong Holdings and other property developers, while South Korean shares were dragged down by shipbuilders such as STX Shipbuilding and securities firms including Samsung Securities.
Japan's stock markets closed Friday for Labour Thanksgiving.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index ended 2.1 percent higher at 26,541.09, while the 43-issue H share index closed 0.8 percent up at 15,691.71.
Local property developers led the charge on bargain buying and on expectations that strong demand for residential properties could help their earnings. Shares of Cheung Kong gained 3.2 percent, while Hang Lung Properties advanced 4 percent.
Shares of Sinotrans Shipping tumbled 12.9 percent on its debut in Hong Kong, in line with the fall in shipping stocks, which succumbed to profit-taking during the session.
Several other beaten-down shares also gained, with Cnooc climbing 4.4 percent.
In Seoul, shares of Samsung Securities dropped 3.7 percent, while among shipbuilders, shares of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering tumbled 8 percent and STX Shipbuilding lost 1.7 percent.
ELSEWHERE:
MUMBAI: India's Sensitive Index climbed 1.2 percent to 18,752.04.
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi ended 1.5 percent lower at 1,772.88 as investors continued to book profits in brokerages and shipbuilders.
SHANGHAI: The Shanghai Composite finished 1 percent higher at 5,032.13.
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times Index was little changed at 3,313.58.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index fell 1.9 percent to 8,342.20.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX slipped 0.1 percent to 6,330.20.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 index added 0.4 percent to 4,071.
with files from other wire services
