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Asia shares mixed after US record

Hong Kong - Asian shares were mixed on Friday, following another record close on Wall St, while the dollar faced some downward pressure after the US Federal Reserve indicated interest rates would stay ultra low into next year.

Oil prices were mixed after surging on the Iraq crisis on Thursday, while eyes now turn to the release next week of provisional manufacturing data from China, Europe and the United States.

Seoul shed 1.20% to 1 968.07, Sydney fell 0.89% to 5 419.5 while Tokyo finished flat, slipping 11.74 points to 15 349.42.

Shanghai closed 0.15% higher, adding 2.94 points to 2 026.67 and Hong Kong gained 0.11% to 23 194.06.

Profit-taking hit some markets after mostly ticking up on Thursday in response to the Fed's broadly upbeat outlook on the US economy and chief Janet Yellen's dovish comments on inflation.

Her outlook that inflation will not get out of control raised the likelihood US interest rates will stay at record lows for at least another year.

In New York, the S&P 500 ended at an all-time high for the second straight session, helped by figures showing new claims for unemployment insurance benefits fell last week, pointing to a general downtrend in job losses.

The broad-based S&P 500 rose 0.13%, while the Dow edged up 0.09% although the Nasdaq dipped 0.08%.

Gold prices rally

Japan's Nikkei index led the way in Asia despite the dollar sinking further against the yen. Japanese exporters are usually hit by a stronger yen as it hurts their competitiveness overseas.

In afternoon trade the dollar was at ¥101.90 compared with ¥101.94 in New York on Thursday afternoon.

The euro fetched $1.3612 and ¥138.74 against $1.3606 and ¥138.70 in US trade.

Oil prices were lower after surging on Thursday to nine-month highs on the back of the Iraq crisis as government troops recaptured a major refinery and the US said it was sending in military advisers to train Iraqi forces.

The main US contract, West Texas Intermediate for July, fell 43 cents to $106.00 a barrel while Brent crude for August eased 34c to $114.72.

Both contracts jumped after US President Barack Obama said he was ready to send 300 military advisers to Iraq and if necessary to take "targeted" and "precise" military action to counter radical Sunni fighters.

And gold rallied in US trade as the prospect of low US interest rates meant there was more chance of inflation rising. The precious metal is considered a haven against rising prices while it also weakens when interest rates go up as dealers look for better returns.

Gold fetched $1 309.77 an ounce at 13:00 in Asia compared with $1 281.86 late on Thursday.

In other markets:

- Wellington fell 0.91% to 5 145.03.

Fletcher Building was off 1.89% at NZ$8.82 and Telecom was down 0.74% at NZ$2.68.

- Taipei slipped 0.46% to 9 273.79.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co fell 1.19% to Tw$124.5 while Hon Hai rose 0.43% to Tw$94.3.

- Manila closed 0.47% higher, adding 31.57 points to 6 730.96.

BDO Unibank rose 0.34% to 89.30 pesos while Metropolitan Bank and Trust gained 1.90% to 86 pesos.

- Jakarta closed down 0.34% at 4 847.70.

Palm oil firm Astra Agro Lestari gained 1.48% to 27 400 rupiah, while tin firm Timah fell 3.40% to 1 280 rupiah.

- Kuala Lumpur gained 0.23% to 1 885.72.

SapuraKencana Petroleum added 3.2% to 4.47 ringgit, while Budget carrier AirAsia lost 0.9% to 2.30 ringgit.

- Singapore eased 0.31% to 3 258.80.

Agribusiness company Wilmar International rose 0.31% to Sg$3.20 while United Overseas Bank was down 0.05% at Sg$22.40.

- Bangkok rose 0.37% to 1 467.29.

Thailand's largest Bangkok Bank gained 1.84% to close at 193.50 baht, and energy giant PTT Plc added 0.34% or 1.00 baht at 298.00 baht.

- Mumbai fell 0.38% to 25 105.51 points.

United Breweries fell 4.67% to 684.05 rupees while Union Bank slipped 4.18% to 220.05 rupees.

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Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
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