Asia stocks mixed
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's call Friday for a weaker yen boosted sentiment but fears of credit tightening in China lingered in a mixed day for Asian stocks.
After the comments the dollar picked up against the Japanese unit, trading at 90.62 yen in Tokyo from 90.48 in New York late Thursday. The euro was also higher at 124.21 yen from 123.77.
The yen surged to 14-year highs against the greenback in November, hitting 86.28 to the dollar at one point. A strong yen hurts the competitiveness of Japanese exporters and erodes their overseas earnings when they are repatriated.
Sydney edged 3.9 points higher to 4,818.1. BHP Billiton fell 0.4 percent to 42.85 Australian dollars, Rio Tinto rose 0.5 percent to 75.96 and Newcrest Mining was up 0.9 percent at 34.21.
Seoul rose 0.37 percent, or 6.12 points, to 1,662.74.
However, Shanghai fell 1.24 percent, or 37.87 points, to 3,013.41 on increasing concern Beijing will further tighten monetary policy to cap the economy's strong growth after figures showed inflation continued to accelerate.
Hong Kong ended marginally lower, dropping 18.46 points to 21,209.74.
Singapore closed 0.26 percent or 7.45 points higher at 2,881.36.
Taipei ended flat, edging down 1.33 points to 7,748.33.
Jakarta lost 0.37 percent, or 10.01 points, to 2,666.51.
Kuala Lumpur lost 0.77 percent, or 10.23 points, to close at 1,311.20.
Manila closed 1.68 percent, or 52.65 points, lower at 3,072.91.
Bangkok closed 1.02 percent, or 7.39 points, higher at 733.34, despite demonstrations in the capital ahead of a mass anti-government rally this weekend.
Mumbai closed flat, edging down 1.34 points to 17,166.62.
India's largest vehicle maker Tata Motors fell 1.22 percent or 9.4 rupees to 761.5.
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