Asia report: Most markets end week on positive note

Most Asian markets finished in the green on Friday, despite whirling concerns of a government shutdown across the Pacific in the United States.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was ahead 0.19% at 23,808.06, as the yen strengthened 0.41% against the dollar to last trade at JPY 110.66.

Financials were among the winners in Tokyo, led by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group which rose 1.44% by end-of-play.

Carmakers were also on the right side of the index, with Honda adding 0.65% and Toyota up 0.53%, while Nintendo continued its ascent, surging 4.23% following the positive reception of its new Nintendo Switch products announced on Thursday.

Technology investment giant SoftBank lost 0.28% after the firm became the largest shareholder in global minicab firm Uber.

The deal reportedly valued the American giant at $48bn - a sizeable discount to a previous $70bn valuation.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.41% at 3,489.11, and the smaller, technology-heavy Shenzhen Composite fell 0.14% to 1,921.33.

South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.18% to 2,520.26, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong was up 0.41% at 32,254.89.

Carmakers were also on the up in Seoul, led by Hyundai Motor, which was ahead 4.52%.

Technology stocks were the losers on the peninsula, however, with Samsung Electronics losing 1.16% after posting gains earlier in the session, while chipmaker SK Hynix was off 2.53%.

Trading in Wanda Hotel Development was halted on the Hong Kong Exchange during the session, with the developer saying the halt was due to a looming “possible, very substantial disposal”.

Oil prices were lower, with Brent crude last down 0.44% at $69.01 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate off 0.46% at $63.66.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.15% to settle at 6,005.80, led lower by the energy subindex as well as the major miners.

Among the resources plays, BHP was off 0.29%, Rio Tinto fell 1.04% and Santos was down 1.34% in Sydney trading.

Across the Tasman Sea, the S&P/NZX 50 was up 0.2% at 8,289.96, led higher by dairy food and infant formula exporter A2 Milk, which rose 2.8%.

Earlier this week, A2 reported plans to establish business in nine US states along the east coast, expanding its global retail exposure by a third.

The down under dollars were a mixed bag, with the Aussie last 0.15% stronger on the greenback at AUD 1.2481, while the Kiwi weakened 0.1% to NZD 1.3712.