ASIA MARKETS: Asia Stocks Mostly Down; Yen Hits 2008 Lows

By Jake Maxwell Watts

The Japanese yen fell to its weakest level against the U.S. dollar since 2008 early Friday, while government data showed that consumer prices rose in November, bolstering growing optimism that the country is on track to shake 15 years of deflation.

The yen (USDJPY) extended its recent trend and briefly traded at Yen105.02 against the U.S. dollar -- a level not seen for five years -- before strengthening slightly to change hands at Yen104.93.

Early data from Japan showed consumer prices rising 1.2% on-year in November, above the 1.1% increase expected by economists. That marked the sixth straight month of price rises and brought the country closer to the 2% inflation target pledged by the government and the Bank of Japan. Strong inflation data should push up expectations that the economy is back on track, reducing the chance that the Bank of Japan would increase its stimulus measures to weaken the yen further than it has already.

Other data showed that industrial production rose 0.1% on month in November, below the 0.3% rise expected by economists. Retail activity accelerated, with sales growing 4% from a year earlier.

Despite a weak yen, the benchmark Nikkei Stock Average lost ground, retreating 0.5% from a six-year high to trade at 16,094.1.

Many large-cap stocks still gained. Telecommunications provider SoftBank Corp. (9984.TO) was 1.7% higher, while auto parts manufacturer Denso Corp. (DNZOF) added 2.4%. Among losers were Fast Retailing Co. (FRCOY), down 0.4%, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. (TKPHF), which lost 4.7% a day after announcing that it would stop producing fasiglifam, a diabetes drug, due to concerns about patients' liver safety.

Most other stock indexes were also lower early Friday. Korea's Kospi lost 0.2% to 1,995.7, while New Zealand's benchmark was down 0.3%.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was the exception, trading up 0.3% on the strength of stocks such as miner Rio Tinto Ltd. (RIO), which gained 1.1%.

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