Asian markets mixed at end of strong week

HONG KONG: Asian markets took a breather Friday at the end of a strong week for equities and the dollar, but sentiment was buoyed by another record day for Wall Street fuelled by upbeat jobs data.

Dealers are keeping tabs on the currency markets as the dollar approaches the 100-yen level not seen for four years, while the euro remained supported despite an announcement from Cyprus that the cost of its bailout had surged.

By the break Tokyo had eased 0.80 percent, with profit-takers moving in to reap the benefits of a 10 percent rally fuelled by the Bank of Japan's huge stimulus plan last week.

Hong Kong added 0.12 percent and Sydney was flat, while Shanghai fell 0.25 percent. Seoul lost 0.27 percent amid simmering tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Regional markets have enjoyed a bright week, in line with a global advance, with the Bank of Japan's promise of huge spending to fight deflation sending the yen tumbling and stocks soaring.

Soft inflation figures from China also tempered fears of monetary tightening from Beijing, which provided regional support.

US investors provided a positive lead after the Labor Department said new claims for unemployment benefits came in at 346,000 last week, below the forecast 365,000 and a sharp fall from the previous week.