Asian stocks mixed at end of a downbeat week

The yen made some minor gains against the dollar and euro after hitting multi-year lows, but with eyes on next month’s general election analysts expect it to resume its downtrend.

Tokyo fell 0.85 percent and Sydney lost 0.16 percent while Hong Kong shed 0.17 percent. But Shanghai edged up 0.12 percent and Seoul put on 0.20 percent.

US shares ticked higher again Thursday on the back of more positive economic indicators.

A regional manufacturing index from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia surged unexpectedly, while the Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index, an amalgamation of several key economic indicators, also improved. Also, US existing-home sales gained in October for the second straight month.

The figures are the latest showing the country is well on a strong recovery track, despite weaknesses in the Chinese, Japanese and eurozone economies.

The Dow climbed 0.19 percent and the S&P 500 gained 0.20 percent — both hitting new peaks — while the Nasdaq added 0.56 percent.

Regional investors started the week on the back foot with the release of data showing Japan had slipped back into recession after a sales tax hike in April put the clamps on consumer spending. The news led Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to put off another hike planned for next year and call a snap election for December.

The news also fuelled speculation the Bank of Japan will unveil fresh monetary easing measures — just weeks after it ramped up its already vast bond-buying scheme on October 31 — sending the yen diving.

However, in early Tokyo trade Friday the Japanese unit was mildly stronger after hitting a more than seven-year low against the dollar and six-year low against the euro.

The greenback bought 118.00 yen against 118.22 yen in New York Thursday, while the euro bought 148.03 yen compared with 148.25 yen.

The single currency was also at $1.2550 from $1.2540.

Traders in Hong Kong and Shanghai largely brushed off the start this week of the Connect dealing tie-up that for the first time opened the mainland’s markets to the international community, albeit on a limited scale.

On the launch day Hong Kong investors had exhausted their daily allowance of Shanghai shares two hours before the close, but mainlanders were less keen — using up less than a fifth of their quota by the end of trade.

And interest faded throughout the week as investors, who were also spooked by more soft Chinese economic data, stayed on the sidelines.

On oil markets US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for January delivery rose 59 cents to $76.44 while Brent crude for January gained 53 cents to $79.86.

Gold was at $1,193.60 an ounce, compared with $1,195.791 late Thursday. -AFP