Investing.com - Most Asian stocks traded higher Friday as the yen weakened and traders digested an array of data points delivered in the region Friday.
In Asian trading Friday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.59%. On Friday, data showed Japanese consumer prices fell 0.4% in April on a year-over-year basis. That was the reading economists expected.
A separate report showed Japan’s unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, still good for the lowest level since November 2008. The jobs-to-applicants ratio rose to 0.89 from the March reading of 0.86, reaching its highest level since June 2008.
Another report showed Japanese household spending rose 1.5% in April, but that is down from a 5.2% increase in March and below the 3.1% increase analysts expected. Separately, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Japan's industrial production rose 1.7% in April. Those surveyed expected the May number to be flat with April and 1.4% decrease in June.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.16%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index added 0.3% after Reserve Bank of Australia said that Australian Private Sector Credit rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% last month compared with a 0.2% increase in March. Economists expected an April increase of 0.3%.
New Zealand’s NZSE 50 rose 0.87% after Statistics New Zealand said the country’s merchandise terms of trade rose 4.1% in the first quarter.
In the March 2013 quarter, the price of exported goods rose 1.9 percent, reflecting higher prices for dairy. Lower meat prices partly offset the rise. Seasonally adjusted export volumes rose 0.9 percent, led by meat. The trend for export volumes has risen for seven consecutive quarters, according to a statement.
South Korea’s Kospie added 0.51% even after the Korea National Statistical Office said that retail sales there fell by 0.5% last month following a 1.6% increase in March. Economists expected an April increase of 0.3%.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.72% while S&P 500 futures inched up 0.02%. The benchmark U.S. index rose 0.37% Thursday.
In Asian trading Friday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.59%. On Friday, data showed Japanese consumer prices fell 0.4% in April on a year-over-year basis. That was the reading economists expected.
A separate report showed Japan’s unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, still good for the lowest level since November 2008. The jobs-to-applicants ratio rose to 0.89 from the March reading of 0.86, reaching its highest level since June 2008.
Another report showed Japanese household spending rose 1.5% in April, but that is down from a 5.2% increase in March and below the 3.1% increase analysts expected. Separately, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Japan's industrial production rose 1.7% in April. Those surveyed expected the May number to be flat with April and 1.4% decrease in June.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.16%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index added 0.3% after Reserve Bank of Australia said that Australian Private Sector Credit rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% last month compared with a 0.2% increase in March. Economists expected an April increase of 0.3%.
New Zealand’s NZSE 50 rose 0.87% after Statistics New Zealand said the country’s merchandise terms of trade rose 4.1% in the first quarter.
In the March 2013 quarter, the price of exported goods rose 1.9 percent, reflecting higher prices for dairy. Lower meat prices partly offset the rise. Seasonally adjusted export volumes rose 0.9 percent, led by meat. The trend for export volumes has risen for seven consecutive quarters, according to a statement.
South Korea’s Kospie added 0.51% even after the Korea National Statistical Office said that retail sales there fell by 0.5% last month following a 1.6% increase in March. Economists expected an April increase of 0.3%.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.72% while S&P 500 futures inched up 0.02%. The benchmark U.S. index rose 0.37% Thursday.