Tokyo, Japan (BBN)-It was a mixed picture for Asian shares at the start of a week shortened by holidays, amid quiet trade as Japanese shares lead the region's gains.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.1 per cent to 18,792.67 despite economic data painting a gloomier picture of the world's third largest economy, reports BBC.
Data showed Japan's factory output fell 1 per cent in November from the previous month, marking the first fall in three months.
Retail sales also fell below forecasts and declined 1 per cent from a year ago.
Japan's economy narrowly avoided a recession in the third quarter and economists are expecting only modest growth in the current one.
Shares of Sharp, however, were up more than 7 per cent on reports that the struggling consumer electronics firm has received a purchase offer from Taiwan's electronics supplier Hon Hai Precision.
Chinese shares were mixed in early trade with the Shanghai Composite flat at 3,629.19, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index down 0.3 per cent to 22,063.11.
In South Korea, the Kospi index was down 0.4 per cent at 1,983.42 points.
The Australian market is closed for a public holiday.
BBN/SK/AD