Asian Shares Mixed; Nikkei Falls After Yen's Recent Gains

Asian shares were mixed early Friday, with some markets seeing support amid easing worries that central banks globally would increase interest rates soon.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.6%, while South Korea's Kospi was trading 0.1% higher and Singapore's Straits Times Index was down 0.2%.

In Japan, the Nikkei Stock Average was trading down 0.1%, following the yen's strength on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to keep rates unchanged. Japanese markets were closed Thursday for a holiday.

The yen retreated slightly against the U.S. dollar on Friday on caution over a possible response from Japanese authorities regarding the currency's latest strength, following a meeting of top finance officials on Thursday.

Shares of Japanese exporters were among the losers Friday, with Honda Motor Co. falling 2.6% and Toyota Motor Corp. down by 2.7%.

Some financial stocks fell on profit-taking after they got a boost Wednesday from the Bank of Japan's latest policy actions. Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. was down 4.7% Friday, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group retreated 2.3%.

"We are seeing some pullback [in stocks], but BOJ's communication is getting better," says Hideyuki Ishiguro, a senior strategist at Daiwa Securities. "Now that the target is on the interest rate, there is greater latitude for easing."

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was up 0.1%, building on Thursday's gains, as property developers outperformed following the Fed's rate decision. Hong Kong's interest-rate movements mirror those of the U.S., given the local currency's peg to the greenback.

The Hang Seng Property Subindex was last up 0.4%, with shares of CKH Holdings adding 1.0% and Wharf Holdings gaining nearly 1%.

Still, investors remain cautious, assessing the broader impact of the Fed action, said Linus Yip, chief strategist at First Shanghai Securities in Hong Kong.

Though short-term rates remain unchanged, "there is a good chance rates will rise in December," he said. Already, some markets are seeing profit-taking moves post the central-bank announcements, Mr. Yip said.

Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, was down 1% in early Asian trade, while gold was down 0.4%.

Kosaku Narioka contributed to the article.

Write to Kenan Machado at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 22, 2016 23:55 ET (03:55 GMT)

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