China’s shares gained, while falling bank shares led to steep losses in Australian stocks Friday.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index moved higher 60.12 points, or 0.3%, to 20,724.56
The Bank of Japan on Friday stuck to its bullish view that it can achieve 2% inflation without extra action, brushing aside a slowing economy and near-zero price growth as temporary developments.
The Japanese yen traded around 124.81 against the U.S. dollar ahead of U.S. jobs data later Friday. It traded at 124.73 late in Asia Thursday.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index reacquired 177.19 points, or 0.7%, to 24,552.47, and a gauge of Chinese companies listed in the city is up 1.5%.
In Australia, a gauge of financial-sector stocks fell 5.1% this week on expectations that big banks will announce further capital raising.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank Ltd. and Westpac Banking Corp. lost as much as 2% earlier Friday. The losses in banking shares are have helped push Australia’s broader market down 3.9% this week.
Shares of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group fell 7.5% after the firm announced a three-billion-Australian-dollar ($2.2 billion U.S.) capital raising. That announcement turned attention to the other members of the big four banks, which will need to get in line with regulators’ call for big banks to increase the level of capital held against potential home-loan losses.
Australia’s energy stocks are also weaker following an overnight drop in oil prices, although Brent crude the global oil benchmark, was last up 0.9% at $49.97 U.S. in Asia trade.
CHINA
In China, the CSI 300 recovered 75.09 points, or 2%, to 3,906.95,
In China, investors are weighing the prospects of consistent government support for the market against worries that traders might withdraw to subscribe for new shares. That follows reports Thursday that China’s stock regulator might start approving firms’ share-placement applications as early as this Friday.
In other markets
Markets in Singapore were closed for holiday
In Taiwan, the Taiex index dropped 7.27 points, or 0.1%, to 8,442.29
In Korea, the Kospi index lost 3.06 points, or 0.2%, to 2,010.23
The NZX 50 let go of 60.03 points, or 1%, to 5,868.66
The ASX 200 Index faltered 135.32 points, or 2.4%, to 5,474.78
