Asian stocks mostly higher, focus on US jobs data

Asian markets were mixed Friday following another record close on Wall Street, while the Nikkei resumed its surge as a brief rally by the yen fizzled out.
Traders were also buoyed by comments from the head of the European Central Bank that it was ready to widen its stimulus programme to support the eurozone economy.
Tokyo rose 0.52 percent a day after easing for the first time this week on profit-taking. The index has soared more than 10 percent since last Wednesday, helped by the Bank of Japan's surprise announcement that it will widen its own monetary base. The Nikkei added 87.90 points to finish at 16,880.38.
Seoul added 0.18 percent, or 3.39 points, to 1,939.87 and Sydney added 0.78 percent, or 43.0 points, to close at 5,549.1.
Shanghai fell 0.32 percent, or 7.69 points, to 2,418.17 and Hong Kong slipped 0.42 percent, or 99.07 points, to 23,550.24.
US shares extended their recent advance ahead of the release later Friday of closely watched October jobs data, with expectations for a healthy gain.
The Dow climbed 0.40 percent and the S&P 500 gained 0.38 percent, both to new highs, while the Nasdaq added 0.38 percent.
Analysts said support was also provided by comments from ECB president Mario Draghi signalling it was ready to introduce fresh measures to counter deflation and boost growth in the ailing eurozone.
"Should it become necessary to further address risks of too prolonged a period of low inflation, the governing council is unanimous in its commitment to using additional unconventional instruments within its mandate," Draghi said after the bank's latest policy meeting.
- Euro struggles -
The news put downward pressure on the euro, which hit a more than two-year low against the dollar.
The single currency was at $1.2388, against $1.2371 in New York, where it fell below $1.2400 for the first time since August 2012.
It was also at 142.75 yen compared with 142.47 yen, but sharply down from the 143.20 yen earlier Thursday in Tokyo.
The dollar resumed its upward trend against the yen after a brief dip Thursday. It bought 115.26 yen Friday, up from 115.16 yen in New York Thursday afternoon.
The yen's plunge has sent Japanese shares, particularly exporters, higher.
Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities, said: "The Bank of Japan's aggressive quantitative easing... is likely to continue to influence the market via currency level fluctuations -- mostly to the upside.
"It's likely that the fallout effect will continue through mid-December, keeping stock prices relatively well-supported," Miura told Dow Jones Newswires.
On oil markets, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for December delivery, dropped 36 cents to $77.55 while Brent crude for December eased 52 cents to $82.34 in afternoon trade.
Gold was at $1,144.92 an ounce, compared with $1,144.41 late Thursday.
In other markets:
-- Mumbai fell 0.17 percent or 47.25 points to end at 27,868.63.
Bharat Heavy Electricals slid 3.21 percent to 249.10 rupees, while Dr Reddy's Laboratories climbed 4.51 percent to 3,400.00 rupees.
-- Kuala Lumpur lost 7.79 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 1,824.19.
AMMB Holdings fell 1.06 percent to 6.51 ringgit, while Public Bank shed 0.55 percent to 18.24.
-- Bangkok shed 0.25 percent or 2.40 points to finish at 1,578.37.
Bangkok Bank lost 0.25 percent or 0.50 baht to 199.50 baht, but energy giant PTT Plc gained 2.62 percent or 10.00 baht to 391.00.
-- Jakarta closed down 0.93 percent, or 46.81 points, at 4,987.42.
Bank Negara Indonesia rose 1.33 percent to 5,725 rupiah, while state miner Aneka Tambang fell 1.06 percent to 935 rupiah.
-- Singapore slipped 0.14 percent, or 4.57 points, to 3,286.39.
United Overseas Bank fell 0.85 percent to Sg$23.30 while agribusiness company WIlmar International gained 1.27 percent to Sg$3.19.
-- Taipei added 0.24 percent, or 21.60 points, to 8,912.62.
Smartphone maker HTC rose 0.37 percent to Tw$137.0 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. fell 0.76 percent to Tw$131.0.
-- Wellington rose 0.28 percent, or 15.38 points, to 5,418.99.
Genesis Energy added 3.8 percent to NZ$2.21 and Meridian Energy gained 3.3 percent to NZ$1.72, while Trade Me lifted 0.50 percent to NZ$4.00.
-- Manila ended down 0.43 percent, or 30.91 points, at 7,205.72.
Bloombery Resorts plunged 7.74 percent to 14.30 pesos and Philippine Long Distance Telephone gained 0.75 percent to 2,942 pesos.