Chinese stocks rose to a fresh record high Friday as foreign currency shares rebounded from losses the day before.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.7 percent to 4,179.78, its highest ever settlement. It is up 56 percent since the start of this year, after soaring 130 percent last year.
Hong Kong stocks fell Friday after U.S. shares dropped overnight and former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan expressed concern over China's soaring share prices.
The blue-chip Hang Seng Index fell 278.31 points, or 1.3 percent, to 20520.66.
Japanese stocks dropped Friday for a second straight day, dragged down by bank and auto shares.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index fell 215.76 points, or 1.22 percent, to finish at 17,481.21 points on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. On Thursday, the index dipped 0.05 percent.
Elsewhere:
SINGAPORE: The benchmark Straits Times Index lost 43.63 points, or 1.2 percent, to 3,486.63.
TAIPEI: The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange fell 56.44 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 8,159.97 points.
JAKARTA: Indonesia shares fell Friday, weighed down by bearish Asian markets and the weaker local currency. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite index closed down 0.9 percent to 2,060.434.
MANILA: The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 29.01 points, or 0.8 percent, at 3,441.76.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips dropped only 1.9 points to 1,399.08.
SYDNEY: The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dropped 26.3 points to 6,252.8 while the All Ordinaries index lost 25.3 points to 6,273.3.
WELLINGTON: The benchmark NZX-50 index closed down 28 points, or 0.7 percent, at 4.305.25.
With files from wire services
