Investing.com - Asian shares traded mixed on Friday as Japanese shares eased from a six-year high this week in thin trade following the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.
The Nikkei 225 index was down 0.07%, after closing Thursday at its highest level since December 2007, with some volatility in the exchange rate following a slew of data releases swaying sentiment, though the currency has weakened nearly 4% this month.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.2% and the Shanghai Composite ended the morning up 0.03%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3% while Korea's Kospi Composite traded flat.
European stocks remained higher on Thursday, despite disappointing German data as markets continued to watch political developments in Germany and Italy, while trade volumes were expected to remain thin with U.S. markets closed.
Data showed that the number of unemployed people in Germany rose by 10,000 in November, compared to expectations for an increase of 1,000. The country’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.9%.
Meanwhile, investors remained focused on events in Germany, after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Conservative party reached a deal on Wednesday to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats, following weeks of negotiations.
The Italian political front was also in focus, a day after the expulsion of Italian politician and three-time former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament, following a vote in the Italian Senate.
In London, FTSE 100 edged up 0.03%, after the Bank of England’s financial stability report said the economic recovery in the U.K. has strengthened.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.39% increase, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.37% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.99% jump.
The Nikkei 225 index was down 0.07%, after closing Thursday at its highest level since December 2007, with some volatility in the exchange rate following a slew of data releases swaying sentiment, though the currency has weakened nearly 4% this month.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.2% and the Shanghai Composite ended the morning up 0.03%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3% while Korea's Kospi Composite traded flat.
European stocks remained higher on Thursday, despite disappointing German data as markets continued to watch political developments in Germany and Italy, while trade volumes were expected to remain thin with U.S. markets closed.
Data showed that the number of unemployed people in Germany rose by 10,000 in November, compared to expectations for an increase of 1,000. The country’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.9%.
Meanwhile, investors remained focused on events in Germany, after Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Conservative party reached a deal on Wednesday to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats, following weeks of negotiations.
The Italian political front was also in focus, a day after the expulsion of Italian politician and three-time former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament, following a vote in the Italian Senate.
In London, FTSE 100 edged up 0.03%, after the Bank of England’s financial stability report said the economic recovery in the U.K. has strengthened.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.39% increase, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.37% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.99% jump.