Tokyo, Japan (BBN)-Asian shares were mostly higher on Friday, gaining momentum from Wall Street, where shares hit a new high.
The S&P 500 closed up 0.2% to a new all-time record after weak US data on home sales, manufacturing and business activity appeared to shoot down plans of an interest rate rise in June, reports BBC.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was down 0.1% to 20,178.29, bucking the region’s trend.
Investors were cautious ahead of the conclusion of the central bank meeting.
The Bank of Japan is expected to leave interest rates and its policy unchanged.
The dollar was at 121.03 yen, lower than 121.07 yen in New York trade.
Toshiba shares were down 0.3% after media reports that the tech firm would expand its accounting probe to other operations with a focus on its TV, computer and chip businesses.
The company has already said that it is investigating bookkeeping irregularities for some infrastructure projects.
CHINA LEADS GAINS
Chinese shares led the region’s gains with the Hang Seng index up 1% to 27,805, while the Shanghai Composite was higher 1.3% to 4,587.43.
The mainland benchmark hit a seven-high on Thursday on hopes of more stimulus from the government after a private survey showed more weakness in the vast manufacturing sector.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was higher by 0.1% to 5,666.5 points.
South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index was up 0.3% to 2,129.81.
